Key features:

• Phase Change Process: Melting, solidification, or vaporization. Constant temperature.
• Energy absorption and release: Melting releases heat; during solidification, it absorbs heat. Such energy causes some changes in structure and condition of the metal. 
• Specific to the material: Different metals require different amounts of latent heat. It depends on the molecular structure of the materials. 

Some latent heat processes are critical to metalwork such as casting, welding, and heat treatment processes. The amount of energy used during phase transformation can reflect the quality of the product and efficiency in manufacture. Knowledge of latent heat provides the basis for controlling how metals behave both in heating and cooling phases.