What is the purpose of the annealing process in metalworking?

The annealing process in metalworking is primarily aimed at softening the metal and improving its ductility. During annealing, the metal is heated to a specific temperature and then allowed to cool slowly. This process helps to relieve internal stresses that may have developed during prior processing, such as welding or machining, and encourages a more stable microstructure.

As a result, the metal becomes more workable and versatile, making it easier to shape, form, and fabricate into new products. Increased ductility enables the metal to deform more easily without fracturing, which is crucial in various metalworking applications. This improved malleability is particularly beneficial when further processing the material through methods like bending, drawing, or forming.

The other choices focus on different objectives that do not align with the primary goals of annealing. While increasing hardness, enhancing surface finish, or joining metals are important processes in metal fabrication, they do not capture the essence of what annealing aims to achieve.