Work hardening, also known as strain hardening, refers to the process in which a material becomes stronger and harder as it is deformed plastically. This phenomenon occurs because the dislocation density within the material increases as it undergoes mechanical deformation, leading to a greater resistance to further deformation. This property is significant in understanding how materials respond to stress and strain during use.

A type of defect in the crystal structure of a material that plays a crucial role in plastic deformation and affects the mechanical properties of metals.

Plastic Deformation: A permanent change in shape that occurs when a material is subjected to stress beyond its yield strength.