Scientists have long understood that heating a metal softens it. But a new study shows that, counterintuitively, heat strengthens pure metal in extreme conditions. Findings could lead to better designed metals for applications in extreme conditions, including outer space.
What I’m saying is since the beginning of forging, mankind has known heating and quenching metals made them stronger, so this story is centuries old. It would stand to reason that if you had higher heat and cleaner metals you’d get a superior product.
No, not necessarily. Classically, heating ferrous materials softened them, and pure metals were inferior to alloys like brass, bronze, pewter, and of course steel.
The article gives this background better than I can. You should read it.