Koudvorming

Koudvorming is a metalworking process used to shape metal at or near room temperature. This contrasts with hot forming, where metal is heated to a high temperature to become more malleable. During cold forming, the metal undergoes plastic deformation, meaning it permanently changes shape without fracturing. This process is often carried out using processes like cold rolling, drawing, forging, or stamping.

The advantages of cold forming include improved surface finish, increased material strength and hardness due to work hardening, and tighter dimensional tolerances. Because no heating is involved, there is no risk of thermal distortion or changes in material microstructure that can occur with hot working. However, cold forming requires more force than hot forming and can lead to residual stresses within the material. It is generally more suitable for ductile metals and is widely used in the manufacturing of fasteners, automotive parts, and other components where precision and strength are important. The force applied during cold forming causes the metal's grains to elongate in the direction of deformation.