Koudevervorming

Koudevervorming, also known as cold working or cold forming, refers to the plastic deformation of metals at temperatures significantly below their recrystallization temperature. This process typically occurs at or near room temperature. During cold working, the metal's grains are elongated and deformed in the direction of the applied force, leading to changes in its mechanical properties.

Key characteristics of cold working include increased strength and hardness, often accompanied by a decrease in ductility. This phenomenon is known as work hardening or strain hardening. The metal becomes more resistant to further deformation. Cold working processes are generally carried out to achieve desired shapes, dimensions, and surface finishes. Examples of cold working techniques include rolling, drawing, forging, and stamping.

The primary advantages of cold working are the improved mechanical properties it imparts, such as higher tensile strength and yield strength, and its ability to produce parts with tight dimensional tolerances and excellent surface finish. However, it requires higher forces and can lead to residual stresses within the material. If the deformation is too severe, the material can become brittle. Therefore, annealing, a heat treatment process, is sometimes performed after cold working to relieve these stresses and restore some ductility.