TITLE: COLD WORKING AND RECRYSTALLIZATION

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this experiment was to do the work on the copper cold and look out for any changes
in the microstructure and to strengthen the cold metal work and know the temperature of
crystallization. Before starting the experiment, 4 cm copper thickness 3 mm cut using chainsaws.
Then cut the copper into four 5mm and we have four of our original copper. The remaining copper
that has been launched to make it the thickness is reduced to 10 % of the original thickness. This
copper rolled then cut into four parts. Then, the same thing was done to the copper with a thickness of
30 % and 50 % of the original thickness. Then, a portion of each thickness were included in four
separate bucket. Container has been set aside at 4 different temperatures ; Room temperature , 200 C
, 300 C , and 600 C for 30 minutes. After that, we use the equipment to test Vickers hardness of
copper after being placed in different circumstances. Violence was recorded. Graph of force against
the cold work in the annealing temperature is plotted.
INTRODUCTION
Altering the shape or size of a metal by plastic deformation. Processes include rolling, drawing,
pressing, spinning, extruding and heading, it is carried out below the recrystallization point usually at
room temperature. Hardness and tensile strength are increased with the degree of cold work whilst
ductility and impact values are lowered. The cold rolling and cold drawing of steel significantly
improves surface finish.

Figure 1: Effect of cold working

The distinction between hot working and cold working does not depends solely on the temperature,
but rather on the processing temperature with respect to the material recrystallization temperature.

When the processing temperature of the mechanical deformation of steel is above the recrystallization
temperature, the process is termed as hot working; otherwise, it is cold working.
For hot working processes, large deformation can be successively repeated, as the metal remains soft
and ductile. The hardness of the material cannot be controlled after hot rolling and it is a function of
chemical composition and the rate of cooling after rolling. The hardness is generally lower than that
of cold rolling and the required deformation energy is lesser as well. However most metal will
experience some surface oxidation resulting in material loss and poor final surface finish.
Cold working processes allow desirable metal qualities that cannot be obtained by hot working, such
as eliminating errors attending shrinkage. As such, a much more compact and higher dimensional
accuracy metal can be obtained with cold working. Furthermore, the final products have a smoother
surface (better surface finish) than those of hot working and the strength, hardness as well as the
elastic limit are increased. However, the ductility of the metal decreases due to strain hardening thus
making the metal more brittle. As such, the metal must be heated from time to time (annealed) during
the rolling operation to remove the undesirable effects of cold working and to increase the workability
of the metal.
Here are 5 benefits of cold working of steels that make a difference to your machining operations:
Increased Strength
It is widely known that cold working pressure changes in the properties of the metal. When a bar of
cold rolled steel cold drawing work through the mold, a significant increase in yield and tensile
strength is obtained. At the same time, the reduction in area and percent elongation decreased. The
graph below shows the effect of cold drawing on the tensile properties of 1-inch diameter steel bar
round.

Figure 2: Mechanical Properties % Change resulting from % Cold Work

There are two important lessons in this graph: 1) As strength properties increase, ductility measures
decrease; 2) Up to about 15% cold reduction, yield strength increases at a much greater rate than
tensile strength. The first 5% of cold work results in the greatest increase in strength.

Improved Surface Finish

Hot rolled steel bars finish at high temperatures, and so the surface has a rough hard scale consists of
various iron oxides. This scale is hard and abrasive consisting of 270 - 1030 DPH (Vickers) micro
hardness depends on the type of oxide (s) formed. For cold draw bar, cold finishers usually remove
scale with shot blasting or acid pickling. This resulted in the removal of hard coarse scale.
By pulling the bar even die, the surface finish is also improved, with Cold Drawn bars typically
running 50 micro inches maximum and modern equipment usually employed in the 25-30 inch oven.
Compare this with the roughness height of 250 or more for hot rolled bar.
Controlled Dimensions
Because of the cold bar reduced at room temperature by pulling through dies oil lubricated, steeldimensional compliance is more easily controlled. Normal tolerance to cold prepared 1 "low carbon
steel bars .000" / - 0.002 "is better than + / - 0.010 for hot rolled steel of the same chemical and
diameter. Concentricity improved cold drawing operations.
Improved Straightness
The straightness of hot roll bars is generally 1/4 max deviation in any 5 foot length. In cold drawn
bars, depending on size and grade this deviation can be held to as little as 1/16 in 10 feet.
Improved Machinability
Higher yield to tensile ratio means a device that has less work to do to move the work piece metal for
ultimate strength when it will separate the chips. This means that less energy on the tool and greater
tool life and productivity. Not putting harsh scale and oxide into a liquid you cut or to your device
because the bar has been cleaned results in longer life and less maintenance for tools, work holding
and machine. More tightly controlled dimensions and concentricity means that the bar can be run at
higher speeds without creating harmful vibrations and chatter. Finer tolerances can be held by your
equipment when properly sized bar going into the machine. Similarly, the straight hair better result in
less run out and allow higher speeds in production.

Theory

Cold working is the plastic deformation shaping process of metals which is performed below
recrystallization temperature. Usually, recrystallization temperature is 40% of melting point
temperature (TR=0.40xTM). Advantages are; no oxides on the surface after operation, no
hydrogen embrittlement, lower costs for process and equipment, hardening from strain.
Disadvantages are; stress in the body therefore mostly it needs recovery process, much more
load power necessity for plastic deformation, it becomes brittle depends to cold working
percentage.
Before work hardening, the lattice of the material exhibits a regular, nearly defect-free pattern
(almost no dislocations). The defect-free lattice can be created or restored at any time by
annealing. As the material is work hardened it becomes increasingly saturated with new
dislocations, and more dislocations are prevented from nucleating (a resistance to dislocationformation develops). This resistance to dislocation-formation manifests itself as a resistance
to plastic deformation; hence, the observed strengthening.
In metallic crystals, irreversible deformation is usually carried out on a microscopic scale by
defects called dislocations, which are created by fluctuations in local stress fields within the

material culminating in a lattice rearrangement as the dislocations propagate through the

lattice. At normal temperatures the dislocations are not annihilated by annealing. Instead, the
dislocations accumulate, interact with one another, and serve as pinning points or obstacles
that significantly impede their motion. This leads to an increase in the yield strength of the
material and a subsequent decrease in ductility.
Such deformation increases the concentration of dislocations which may subsequently form
low-angle grain boundaries surrounding sub-grains. Cold working generally results in higher
yield strength as a result of the increased number of dislocations and the Hall-Petch effect of
the sub-grains, and a decrease in ductility. The effects of cold working may be reversed by
annealing the material at high temperatures where recovery and recrystallization reduce the
dislocation density.
Annealing is a heat process whereby a metal is heated to a specific temperature /colour and
then allowed to cool slowly. This softens the metal which means it can be cut and shaped
more easily. Mild steel is heated to a red heat and allowed to cool slowly. However, metals
such as aluminium will melt if heated for too long. Annealed metals are relatively soft and can
be cut and shaped more easily. They bend easily when pressure is applied. As a rule they are
heated and allowed to cool slowly. Hardened metals are difficult to cut and shape. They are
very difficult if not impossible to bend. As a rule they are heated and cooled very quickly by
quenching in clean, cold water. (V. Ryan, 2005)
Three stages are linked to the annealing process, namely (Richard, C.M., 2009):
1. Recovery phase. This is that point when the metal is softened by means of removing
defects on the crystals and whatever internal stress the dislocation causes. This stage
covers the instance before any stains or grains are seen on the material.
2. Recrystallization phase. This is the phase when new grains grow on the material. This is
said to replace those that were deformed and removed during the recovery phase.
3. Grain growth phase. This stage results to a problem on the material. Since grains occur,
there is a tendency for the output to coarsen thus making the metal less satisfactory than
usual.
Rolling- It is the process of plastically deforming metal by passing it between rolls. Rolling
may be defined as the reduction of the cross-sectional area of the metal stock, or the general
shaping of the metal products, through the use of the rotating rolls. It allows a high degree of
closed-loop automation and very high speeds, and is thus capable of providing high-quality,
close tolerance starting material for various secondary sheet metal working processes at a low
cost. Rolling is the most widely used forming process, which provides high production and
close control of final product. The metal is subjected to high compressive stresses as a result
of the friction between the rolls and the Rolling process metal surface.

Figure 1: Rolling Process

The Vickers hardness test uses a square-based pyramid diamond indenter with an angle of
136 between the opposite faces at the vertex, which is pressed into the surface of the test
piece using a prescribed force, F. The time for the initial application of the force is 2 s to 8 s,
and the test force is maintained for 10 s to 15 s. After the force has been removed, the
diagonal lengths of the indentation are measured and the arithmetic mean, d, is calculated.
The Vickers hardness number was then read from given table. (www.materials.co.uk)

Figure 2: Vicker's Equipment press the metal

Equipment Set-Up

Piece of copper
Vickers Test machine
Microscope
Furnace

Figure 3: Vicker's Test Machine

Procedure
1. Rolling of three pieces of copper in order to reduce thickness by the following
percent:
i. 10%
ii. 30%
iii. 50%
2. The rolled sample is cut into 5 pieces.
3. For each pieces :
I. Keep one rolled piece
II. Anneal one piece at 200 0C for 30 minutes
III. Anneal one piece at 300 0C for 30 minutes
IV. Anneal one piece at 600 0C for 30 minutes
4. The hardness testing is measured for each of the above sample after rolling or
annealing.
5. The sample is observe using microscope.
6. Recrystallization temperature is determined.

OBJECTIVE

To do cold working on copper and observe any changes in microstructure

To anneal the cold worked metal and find out crystallization temperature.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Condition
Untreated

200 C

300 C

600 C

D1
52.8
40.0
35.4
33.8
108.8
108.2
109.0
99.2
102.5
98.3
97.9
87.8
114.4
111.8
109.9
108.5

Thickness, %
Unrolled
10
30
50
Unrolled
10
30
50
Unrolled
10
30
50
Unrolled
10
30
50

D2
45.7
29.1
23.8
32.2
108.6
114.2
102.1
87.4
105.4
98.2
96.2
88.0
106.9
107.8
109.1
102.4

Hardness, HV
764.0
1553.0
2116.0
1702.0
157.0
150.0
166.0
213.0
172.0
192.0
197.0
240.0
151.0
154.0
155.0
167.0

Hardness against Cold Working

2500

2000

1500

Untreated
200

Hardness, HV

300
1000

600

500

10

20

30

Cold Working, %

40

50

60

Graph 1: Graph of Hardness against Cold Working

Microstructure of copper at different temperature:

1. Untreated

2. At 200 0C

Unrolled

10%

30%

50%

3. At 300 0C

Unrolled

10%

30%

50%

4. At 600 0C

Unrolled

10%

30%

50%

Unrolled

10%

30%

50%

DISCUSSION:
There are numerous errors that affect our results meaningfully:

1. The precision or dimension of the copper as we cut it was not up to level, which means,
the size of the copper are uneven.
2. Parallax error during reading the Vanier calliper, it might affect the reading of the
thickness reduction.
3. Surface of the copper was not smooth and flat for hardness test due to oxide layer was not
fully removed.
4. Different person that adjust the size of the diamond may affect the size because each
person have different precision.
In order to reduce this error, few precaution steps need to be taken:
1. Use an automatic roller to reduce the copper thickness so that the reduction was precise.
2. Cautiously saw the copper in order to get the same dimension of the copper.
3. Take more reading to reduce the errors and increase precision of data.
If possible, carry out the hardness test at the centre of the specimen since different part displays
different properties.

CONCLUSION

In a nutshell, cold working increases the hardness at room temperature whereas annealing decreases
the hardness. Next, we also found out that as temperature increase, the hardness increase. Moreover,
as temperature increase the ductility increases. Additionally, heat treatment process is needed in order
to release the stresses in the metal. Annealing process consists of recovery, recrystallization and grain
growth process and recrystallization temperature for copper is in range 200C to 400C

REFERENCE
1. Ryan, V. (2005). Annealing Metal. New Jersey: Technology Student.
2. Richard, C.M. (2009). Annealing and Metallurgy-The Different Stages and Processes.
United States: John Wiley & Sons Inc
3. Callister, W. D. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction (7 th Ed). John Willey
& Sons Inc.
4. Rollason, E. C. (1974). Metallurgy for engineers. Melbourne : Edward Arnold
(Australia)
5. Callister, W. D., & Rethwisch, D. G. (2007). Materials science and engineering: an
introduction (Vol. 7, pp. 172-177). New York: Wiley.
6. Laboratory worksheet