carburize

especially British, car·bu·rise

[kahr-buh-rahyz, -byuh-]

verb (used with object)

carburized, carburizing 

1. to cause to unite with carbon.

2. to carburet.

carburize

/ ˈkɑːbjʊˌraɪz, -bə- /

verb

1. another word for carbonize carbonize

2. (tr) to increase the carbon content of (the surface of a low-carbon steel) so that the surface can be hardened by heat treatment

Other Word Forms

• carburization noun
• carburizer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carburize¹

First recorded in 1880–90; carbur(et) + -ize

Example Sentences

Under primitive methods of making wrought-iron it is quite possible to carburize the iron sufficiently to make steel direct from ore.

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The hardness of the fleam metal indicated that it was carburized sufficiently to be made of steel.

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In some cases of cyanide carburizing, the piece is heated in cyanide to the desired temperature and then quenched.

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Under such conditions, carbon is absorbed by the steel surfaces, and a carburized case is produced capable of responding to ordinary hardening and tempering operations, the core meanwhile retaining its original softness and toughness.

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It must be packed so that each piece is separate from the others and does not touch the box, with a sufficient amount of carburizing material surrounding each.

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