1. to remove carbon from (a metal or alloy), especially from steel or iron
Usage: metallurgy; technical

Examples

• The steel must be decarburized before it can be properly welded.
• High temperatures can decarburize the surface of iron components.
• The metallurgist worked to decarburize the alloy to improve its properties.
• Exposure to oxygen at elevated temperatures will decarburize steel.
• The furnace atmosphere was controlled to prevent decarburizing the metal parts.
• Engineers must carefully monitor the process to avoid decarburizing the steel surface.