The GATE Grind

GATE 2026 MT – Question 24

Physical Metallurgy · Heat treatment and recrystallization · 1 mark · Multiple choice

Which one of the following options is correct? After cold-working of a metallic specimen, during the recovery stage, its electrical conductivity:

  1. Always increases
  2. Always decreases
  3. Can increase or decrease
  4. Remains unaffected

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (A) Always increases

Explanation

Cold working introduces vacancies and dislocations that scatter conduction electrons. Recovery annihilates point defects and rearranges/reduces dislocations, decreasing electrical resistivity before full recrystallization occurs. Conductivity, the reciprocal of resistivity, therefore **increases, A**, under the recovery process intended by the question.