Heat treatment is a process involving heating of a metal/alloy at a specific rate, holding it at a temperature for a period of time and cooling it at a specific rate. Heat treatment is performed to obtain a desired microstructure and achieve certain physical, mechanical, magnetic or electrical properties. Components produced by forging are heat treated to obtain desired microstructure and specified properties. Objectives of heat treatment : The major objectives are -To increase strength, hardness and wear resistance -To increase ductility and toughness. -To obtain fine grain size by recrystallization annealing, full annealing or normalizing . -To remove residual internal stresses formed due to cold working by stress relief annealing -To improve machinability of forged components -To improve cutting properties of tool steels -To improve surface hardening, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance by precipitation hardening -To improve electrical properties -To impr...