The
hardenability of a
metal alloy is the depth up to which a material is hardened after putting through a
heat treatment process.The unit of hardenability is the same as of length. It is an indication of how deep into the material a certain hardness can be achieved. It should not be confused with
hardness, which is a measure of a sample's resistance to indentation or scratching. It is an important property for
welding, since it is inversely proportional to
weldability, that is, the ease of welding a material.