ANS:B - annealing

Spheroidizing of a material is a heat treatment process aimed at altering the microstructure of the material, specifically to convert cementite (Fe3C) in the steel to a more spherical shape. This process involves prolonged heating of the material at a temperature below the eutectoid temperature (A1) followed by slow cooling. Therefore, the correct term to describe spheroidizing is annealing. Annealing involves heating a material to a specific temperature and then slowly cooling it to alter its properties, often making it softer or more ductile. In the case of spheroidizing, the goal is to soften the steel and improve its machinability by transforming the carbide particles into rounded shapes.