Sorbitizing
Sorbitizing
a type of heat treatment used with steel. In sor-bitizing, the steel is first heated to above the transformation temperature and then cooled at a rate of 100°–600°C/min in an air stream or quenched in a liquid medium heated to 300°–500°C. Sorbitizing produces a uniform sorbite or troostite structure with a high strength and resistance to wear. It is used in the production of rails, wire, and other items whose mechanical properties must meet stringent specifications.