Carburize is the process of adding carbon to a metal surface, a common method used to improve the hardness, strength and wear resistance of metal components. A few of the most common synonyms for carburize include carbonize, case harden, temper, anneal and heat treat. Carbonizing involves saturating the surface of a metal with carbon while case hardening involves heating the metal and then cooling it in a carbon-rich atmosphere. Tempering involves heating the metal and then quenching it rapidly to increase its strength and resilience. Annealing involves heating and cooling metal slowly to alleviate stress and improve its ductility. Finally, heat treating involves using heat to modify the properties of metal, such as making it harder or more malleable.