Cold Worked Steel
Cold worked steel is a type of metal that has been treated at its freezing point in order to increase its strength and hardness. This type of steel is manufactured through a series of complex steps where the metal is heated and cooled multiple times before it is ultimately cooled and hardened at its “cold” working temperature. Steel that has been cold worked is usually stronger than heat-treated steel and can be used in a variety of applications from aerospace and automotive parts to tools and knives.
During the cold working process, the metal’s surface area is increased due to plastic deformation or by applying mechanical forces such as wear or hammering. This causes the metal to become more resistant to any form of stress or wear. For example, a metal that has been cold worked can typically withstand wear and tear better than steel that has been heat treated. Additionally, cold worked steel tends to be more corrosion resistant, as the cold-working process reduces the material’s size, therefore making it less vulnerable to oxidation. This can be particularly useful in applications where the steel is regularly exposed to wet conditions.
Cold worked steel is also more machinable than heat-treated steel, meaning it can be very easily formed and shaped into the desired product. The higher machinability of this type of steel makes it ideal for many engineering and manufacturing processes, such as roll-forming and stamping.
Cold worked steel is manufactured at several different rates, depending on the particular application. This will typically range from cold working at 100-150 degrees F, to cold working at 800-1000 degrees F. At higher temperatures, the metal becomes more ductile and more resistant to wear, although it also becomes less hard.
The strength of cold worked steel is determined by the number of times it has gone through the cold working process. For instance, a metal that has been cold worked twice will be much stronger than a metal that has been cold worked just once. Therefore, it is important to understand the type of metal and how many times it has been cold-worked when choosing the right steel for a particular application.
In conclusion, cold worked steel is a type of metal that is ideal for many engineering and manufacturing projects, due to its high strength, corrosion resistance and machinability. It is important to consider the metal and how many times it has gone through the cold working process, in order to ensure that it meets the demands of the application.
