colddrawn

Cold drawing, commonly written as cold-drawn, is a metalworking process in which a ductile metal is pulled through a die at or near room temperature to reduce its cross-sectional area and increase its length. The operation may involve a sequence of progressively smaller dies and sometimes intermediate anneals to relieve excessive work hardening. Lubricants are used to minimize friction and reduce surface defects. Cold drawing is contrasted with hot drawing, which is performed above the metal's recrystallization temperature to avoid work hardening but typically yields less precise tolerances and surface finish.

Cold drawing is widely used for steel and stainless steel wires, as well as copper and copper alloys, aluminum, and nickel alloys. It produces products such as wires, bars, rods, and tubes; for tubes, drawing can be done over a mandrel to produce hollow sections or by extrusion-like techniques. Rods and billets may be drawn through small-diameter dies to achieve tight tolerances and smooth surfaces.

Because drawing is a plastic deformation performed at room temperature, it introduces work hardening that raises yield strength and tensile strength while reducing ductility and impact resistance. The process also refines microstructure and improves surface finish and dimensional accuracy. Residual stresses can be induced, and magnetic, electrical, or corrosion properties may change depending on alloy and process.

Manufacturers may apply post-draw annealing to restore ductility for some applications, or perform annealing in stages to balance strength and ductility. Tooling and die wear are important cost considerations, and lubrication quality directly affects surface condition and productivity. Quality control typically includes dimensional metrology, surface inspection, and mechanical testing to verify hardness, strength, and ductility.

Applications include fasteners, springs, cables, and precision components in automotive, electrical, and aerospace industries.