THE SCIENCE BEHIND

FORGING AND
HEAT TREATMENT
What is forging
The plastic deformation of metal porosity of the metal, creating a
by local compressive forces
under moderate heat. These
forces are applied using a
hammer or die to shape the
piece of metal.
Forging reduces the amount of
defects, inclusions and the
unique grain structure.
Consequently, mechanical
properties such as impact
toughness, fatigue strength and
tensile ductility are improved.

What is the use of Different types of

forging forging:
Forging has been used
Hot Forging: when the metal is
abundantly since 500BC as a
heated above its recrystallization
metal fabrication technique.
temperature, decreasing the
Forging is a useful method of
amount of energy needed to
shaping metal without producing
deform the metal.
cracks or defects by harnessing
the natural plasticity of metal.
Cold forging: whem metal is
worked beneath its
recrystallization temperature
What is the effect
of forging Tools for forging: hammer, die,
press, roll
 What is heat
treatment:
Heat treatment is the controlled
heating and cooling of a metal to
alter its physical and mechanical
properties. These processes are
often conducted after hardening
processes due to the internal
stresses induced.
Types of heat
treatment:
Quenching: where metal is
heated until red hot then quickly
brought down to room
temperature by submersion in
liquid.
Effect: creates great internal
stress, increasing hardness,
while decreasing malleability.
Annealing: when the metal is
heated above its recrystallization
temperature and then furnace
cooled to room temperature
often over a period of days
Effect: creates a larger uniform
grain structure, decreasing
hardness but increasing ductility
and malleability
Normalizing: is similar to
annealing, however the metal is
brought up to a slightly higher
temperature and then quickly
soaked and then air cooled, this
produces a finer grain structure
Effect: smaller uniform grain
structure, resulting in less
malleability but retaining greater
hardness