Normalization is a heat treatment normally indicated for homogenization of the structure after forging and before quenching or tempering. This involves heating the steel to the critical zone temperature (austenite formation), but with faster cooling at room temperature.

Alloyed steels that temper (harden) in air are not normalized.

In relation to annealing, the mechanical strenght obtained in normalization is higher, however, the ductility obtained is lower.