Abstract: A process for the strengthening of carbon steels wherein a hypoeutectoid carbon steel workpiece, preferably in the shape of a rod or a bar, is rapidly heated to a temperature completely within the austenite region at a rate sufficient to minimize grain growth of austenite grains, the resulting austenitized steel workpiece is quenched to transform the steel to a fine mixture of acicular proeutectoid ferrite and a finely divided eutectoid aggregate of ferrite and iron carbide, followed by working at a temperature ranging up to the critical lower temperature to strengthen the steel. The process of the invention provides a drastic increase in both strength and ductility as compared to untreated steels such as those obtained by hot rolling.