Cold Rolling of Metals
Abstract
This report is to highlight the methods, results and theory relevant during an engineering experiment called “cold rolling of metals". The purpose of this report is to show how readings obtained from the set-out experiment, can be evaluated to determine the behavior of 3 selected materials; Brass, Copper and Aluminium through the process of cold rolling. The form of the materials are in small strips which are processed via cold-rolling method 4 times from their original state to evaluate the effects incurred on hardness values, width, length and thicknesses. Hardness values/vickers numbers are determined for each material using a Vickers hardness tester and the measurements of width, length & thickness taken using a vernier caliper & micrometer. These values for each material are recorded pre-cold rolling from original and on each pass allowing the recorded results to be compared upon completion. On each pass a 3rd of a turn was applied to the rollers reducing the size of each material work piece in the order of Brass, Copper and Aluminium. Upon completion of this simple experiment the results were tabulated and a graph plotted to portray the collected data. It can be determined that the major affect exhibited by the process of cold rolling on each material was a clear increase in thickness reduction, width, length including an increase in hardness of each material. Copper appeared to be the most affected by the process, followed by Brass whereas Aluminium exhibited a small increase in its overall hardness to percentage deformation ratio. Certain recorded figures upon final analysis obtained during the experiment appear to be inaccurate in line with result patterns; and could be a result of numerous conditions one of which is the room for human error.
Nomenclature o To calculate the reduction thickness percentage on each pass the following formula is to be used which after measurements of thickness,
This report is to highlight the methods, results and theory relevant during an engineering experiment called “cold rolling of metals". The purpose of this report is to show how readings obtained from the set-out experiment, can be evaluated to determine the behavior of 3 selected materials; Brass, Copper and Aluminium through the process of cold rolling. The form of the materials are in small strips which are processed via cold-rolling method 4 times from their original state to evaluate the effects incurred on hardness values, width, length and thicknesses. Hardness values/vickers numbers are determined for each material using a Vickers hardness tester and the measurements of width, length & thickness taken using a vernier caliper & micrometer. These values for each material are recorded pre-cold rolling from original and on each pass allowing the recorded results to be compared upon completion. On each pass a 3rd of a turn was applied to the rollers reducing the size of each material work piece in the order of Brass, Copper and Aluminium. Upon completion of this simple experiment the results were tabulated and a graph plotted to portray the collected data. It can be determined that the major affect exhibited by the process of cold rolling on each material was a clear increase in thickness reduction, width, length including an increase in hardness of each material. Copper appeared to be the most affected by the process, followed by Brass whereas Aluminium exhibited a small increase in its overall hardness to percentage deformation ratio. Certain recorded figures upon final analysis obtained during the experiment appear to be inaccurate in line with result patterns; and could be a result of numerous conditions one of which is the room for human error.
Nomenclature o To calculate the reduction thickness percentage on each pass the following formula is to be used which after measurements of thickness,
References: [1] Toughness of Ferritic Stainless Steels By R. A. Lula, R. A. Lula Metal Properties Council [2] http://shuspace.shu.ac.uk – BB Module - Materials engineering [4] http://metals.about.com/library/bldef-Cold-Working.htm [5] http://www.efunda.com/processes/metal_processing/cold_rolling.cfm