German term (edited): Feinkornh�rtung

I'm not a metallurgist, but this might be the correct term. I'm basing this on Feinkorn = fine grain and the following descriptions.

Strengthening Mechanisms M J Whiting
Work hardening, solid solution, grain size hardening, dislocation - particle interactions (age hardening and dispersion hardening) and other mechanisms.

http://www.surrey.ac.uk/eng/pg/mse/amt2a.pdf

Grain Size Hardening Overview
Authors/Contributors: Graeme Marshall, Alcan International Ltd; Paul Evans, Innoval Technology Ltd (formerly Alcan International Ltd, Banbury); Ricky Ricks, Innoval Technology Ltd (formerly Alcan International Ltd, Banbury); Andrew Green, The University of Liverpool;
Reducing the grain size of a polycrystalline material is an effective way of increasing its strength. In this section, you will learn why this is the case. You will also be able to perform a "virtual experiment" to test how the yield stress of an Al-4.5%Mg alloy varies with its grain size.
http://aluminium.matter.org.uk/content/html/eng/default.asp?...


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 44 mins (2003-08-31 21:44:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Einen deutlichen Beitrag zur Festigkeitssteigerung bei guter Zähigkeit leistet die Feinkornhärtung (Korngrenzen als Hindernisse).
Die Festigkeitssteigerung beruht auf der Hemmung der Verset-
zungsbewegung durch die Großwinkelkorngrenzen eines sehr dichten Gefüges aus kleinen Körnern.