Steel Can Be Worked Cold

: THE FORGING OF STEEL
: The Working Of Steel

As noted above, steel can be worked cold,

as in the case of cold-rolled steel. Heat treatment of cold-worked

steel is a very delicate operation. Cold working hardens and strengthens

steel. It also introduces internal stresses. Heat-treatments are

designed to eliminate the stresses without losing the hardness

and strength. This is done by tempering at a low heat. Avoid the

blue range (350 to 750 deg.C.). Tempering for a considerable time just

under the critical is liable to cause great brittleness. Annealing

(reheating through the critical) destroys the effect of cold work.



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