Materials For Cold Forging

Both ferrous and non-ferrous metals can be cold formed. The ability to forge these metals and the amount of possible deformation depends greatly on the chemical composition and annealed properties of grade. Properties such as hardness and ductility are critical properties in determining the formability of a metal. It is important to know that the mechanical properties of materials are greatly improved after cold forming. Sometimes this improvement is so great that grades which would have been considered unsuitable if machined, warm forged, or hot forged, could have suitable mechanical properties for the application after cold forming. The improvement in mechanical properties of a grade depends partly on the amount and type of deformation taking place. Portions of the forging that see little work will not see as great an improvement as the locals of greater deformation.