MSE 360 Materials Laboratory I

Lab #5: Cold Rolling of Metals

INTRODUCTION
Work-hardening techniques that increase the yield strength of metals and metal alloys are
commonly used in metals processing. In this lab we will investigate “cold working” by the “cold
rolling” process. “Cold” deformation is a general term meaning deformation at a temperature
below about half the melting point (in K) of a material, that is at a temperature at which diffusive
processes are too slow to effect the development of microstructure during processing.

OVERVIEW
Rolling is one common way to deform a metal to a defined shape, for example a sheet. In this lab
you will roll samples of nominally pure copper (3-9’s copper, “alloy 110”) and “free-machining”
brass (Alloy 360, nominally 30wt% Zn). You will investigate the effect of rolling on the yield
strength of the material by measuring the hardness of the material as a function of the amount of
plastic deformation induced. Standard methods for measuring hardness, which is related to yield
strength, will be introduced.

LAB INSTRUCTIONS
Week 1:
1. Divide your section into two groups. Each group will be responsible for cold rolling one bar
of material and then measuring and evaluating work-hardening in one of that alloys.
2. Measure the length, width and thickness of the sample. Record the measurements in your
notebook.
3. Set the rolls on the rolling mill to produce a 10% reduction in the thickness. Roll the sample.
Measure the sample to confirm that a 5-10% reduction in cross section was achieved. If not,
reset the rollers and roll again.
4. Measure the length, width and thickness of the rolled sample. Record the results
5. Cut off about 1½ inches of sample and label it.
6. Repeat instructions 3-5 cyclically until you have 6 samples.
7. In your group, assign one sample to each person. Each person should then section off, mount,
grind, and polish a cross-section of their sample for use in lab next week. Use Bakelite
mounts. Save the remaining piece of the sample.
8. Be sure to label clearly both the remaining piece and the mount,

Week 2:
9. Measure the hardness of the sample you mounted as instructed in class.
10. With your group, prepare a graph of the sample hardness as a function of the degree of
plastic deformation expressed as % cold work.