Alloys that develop their shape and properties by cold-working often have to be re-softened at regular intervals before further deformation can take place.

Other examples of softening include the re-solution of second phases in age-hardening alloys, and the controlled grain growth of alloys with small grain sizes. An interesting exception is provided by solute-hardened materials which cannot be softened since this strengthening mechanism is determined solely by composition and not by thermal or mechanical processing.

Strengthening Mechanism		Associated Softening Mechanism (s)
Strain Hardening		Recovery, Recrystallisation, Grain growth
Age hardening		Solution heat treatment
Grain Size hardening		Grain growth
Solute hardening		NONE

The different sections of this module are listed under the "Sub-topics" heading on the left.