Cold Working

Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology
Experiments
For
MEE10002
Materials and Processes
Experiment MEE10002-E2
Cold work and annealing of Brass
for
The first year of Engineering
Experiment LMAPR-E2
Cold Work and Annealing of Brass
Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

Reference: . Callister, W.D. Jr., Materials Science and Engineering, Wiley N.Y. 8th Ed. 2010,
Chapters 7, 9.
Purpose: To demonstrate the phenomena of cold work and the effect of annealing on brass.
Keywords: cold work, recrystallization, annealing
Prerequisite Knowledge: Basic knowledge of microstructure; hardness testing; heat
treatment; precipitation hardening; annealing; grain size; etching of metals.
Save all your data on a USB data key for later analysis
Introduction
When a metal is deformed at a temperature below its recrystallization temperature (Cold Worked) a
number of properties are changed. In particular its "hardness" (resistance to local plastic deformation) is
increased. If a metal component is being shaped (formed) by cold work then after a certain amount of
cold work, it cannot be further deformed without fracture.
Before further deformation can be carried out the structure must be softened by annealing, which
consists of heating the metal to above its recrystallization temperature (Figure 1).
The cold work and anneal cycle is commonly used in the formation of rolled and drawn components
such as strip and wire.
Figure 1. Schematic illustration of

the effects of recovery,
recrystallization, and grain growth
on mechanical properties and
shape and size of grains. Note the
formation of small new grains
during recrystallization. Source: G.
Sachs in Kalpakjian,S.and Schmid
S.R., Manufacturing Engineering
and Technology, Pearson Prentice
Hall, NJ, 5th ed. 2006

Materials 70/30 brass
Five small specimens of brass reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 60%

are supplied.
Procedure Part A
Annealing
Heat four small brass specimens (cold-rolled by 60%) in the individual furnaces,
(Figure 1), (an annealing treatment)., as follows:
(i) one small brass piece at 200 C, for 20 minutes

(ii) one small brass piece at 400 C, for 20 minutes
(iii) one small brass piece at 540 C, for 20 minutes, and,
(iv) one small brass piece at 660 C for 20 minutes
Figure 2. Heat treatment furnaces Figure 3. Vickers hardness

tester

Part B
Hardness testing of 70/30 brass
Five brass reference bars for hardness testing (Vickers Hardness Tester):
:-. One brass bar (no cold work done, as supplied fully annealed), ie no reduction,
-. one brass bar reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 20%,
-. one brass bar reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 40%,
-.one brass bar reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 60%
-. one brass bar reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 80%.
Hardness Testing Procedure

 Whilst the four brass samples from Part A are being annealed
measure the Vickers Hardness (HV (10)) of the five brass reference bars using the Vickers
hardness tester with a load of 10 kg.
 Remove the four small brass pieces from the furnaces and quench them in water to room
temperature. (This is known as solution treatment, and is to prevent precipitation hardening
from occurring).
 Place each quenched sample into a holding tray which is marked (for reference) at the annealing
temperatures, i.e. 200 C, 400 C, 540 C and 660 C.
 Grind both sides of the heat treated brass samples to #220 grit on the polishing machines.
Continue to grind one side only in stages using the #400, #800 and #1200 grit grinding pads.
 Clean samples by washing in water and polish the #1200 grit ground side using the diamond
paste polishing pad for 30 seconds. Clean with kerosene, and then wash the kerosene off with
alcohol.
 Blow-dry the samples using the hair dryer and place each one back into its holding tray.
 Measure the hardness HV (10) of all the heat treated brass samples using the Vickers hardness
tester with a load of 10 kg on the side opposite the polished side (i.e. on the ground side).
 Etch the four samples in 50% HNO for about 10-15 seconds each, Rinse in clean water, and
then blow-dry the samples.
 Place the dry samples back into their holding tray.
 Place each sample of brass (which has been polished and etched) onto the metallurgical
microscope.
 Take an image of the surface of each sample using the digital camera. Save your images to -
your USB key
 When all four samples have been imaged compare the images. Save your images to your USB
key.
 Estimate the grain size of theses brass samples using comparison ASTM charts supplied at 100
magnification.
 Compare the microstructures and note any changes in grain shape or appearance.

EXPERIMENT LMAPR-E2: Cold Work and Annealing of Brass

Fill out the sections in the Tables:
 Percent cold reduction. vs. hardness (Table 1)
 annealing temperature vs. hardness ((Table 2)
 annealing temperature vs. gain size ((Table 3)
Table 1. Percent cold Reduction versus Hardness
Percent Cold Reduction Hardness HV (10kg)

HV(10)
Original sample
20 %
40 %
60 %
80 %
Percentage cold work versus hardness

Table 2. Annealing Temperature versus Hardness (heat treated specimens)

Annealing Temperature (Celsius) Hardness HV (10kg)
200 C
400 C
540 C
660 C
Annealing Temperature versus hardness
Estimate the recrystallization temperature (degrees C) = ?

Table 3. Annealing Temperature versus Grain Size
Annealing Grain Size (mm) Grain shape

Temperature (Celsius)
200 C
400 C
540 C
660 C
Annealing temperature versus grain size

 Save your images to your USB key.

 Compare the four sample images.
 Sketch the heat treated brass microstructure as it appears in the microscope.
Brass microstructure Brass microstructure
Annealing Temperature Annealing Temperature

200°C 400°C
Brass microstructure Brass microstructure
Annealing Temperature Annealing Temperature

540°C 660°C

1. Explain why increasing the amount of cold working increases the hardness of the brass
samples. In your discussion detail what happens to the number of dislocations and how this affects the
hardness.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Explain how heat treating (Annealing) can reverse the effects of cold working, in your
explanation detail the three stages of heat treatment
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Cold Working

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cold Working

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cold Working

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

Materials and Processes

Cold work and annealing of Brass

The first year of Engineering

Cold Work and Annealing of Brass

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

Figure 1. Schematic illustration of

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

Materials 70/30 brass

Five small specimens of brass reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 60%

(i) one small brass piece at 200 C, for 20 minutes

Figure 2. Heat treatment furnaces Figure 3. Vickers hardness

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

Hardness Testing Procedure

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

EXPERIMENT LMAPR-E2: Cold Work and Annealing of Brass

Table 1. Percent cold Reduction versus Hardness

Percent Cold Reduction Hardness HV (10kg)

Percentage cold work versus hardness

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

Table 2. Annealing Temperature versus Hardness (heat treated specimens)

Annealing Temperature versus hardness

Estimate the recrystallization temperature (degrees C) = ?

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

Table 3. Annealing Temperature versus Grain Size

Annealing Grain Size (mm) Grain shape

Annealing temperature versus grain size

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Save your images to your USB key.

Brass microstructure Brass microstructure

Annealing Temperature Annealing Temperature

Brass microstructure Brass microstructure

Annealing Temperature Annealing Temperature

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

You might also like