Copper precipitation hardening in steel
Increase in the strength of plain and low-alloy steels through the targeted precipitation of submicroscopic copper particles at tempering temperatures.
Copper precipitation hardening means: you get tiny copper particles in the structure through a heat treatment after welding. They make the steel stronger without making it brittle. That's the trick with these steels. When welding, you have to be careful not to put too much heat into the material. Otherwise, you'll age the structure prematurely and lose the strength. The subsequent heat treatment is mandatory if you want full values. Don't experiment: stick to the temperature-time windows specified by the manufacturer. This is no place for gut feeling. If you can't treat the parts properly afterward, you have to say so beforehand.