Effect of cold working on

electrical properties of a
material
 What is COLD WORKING ?
• The process in which plastic deformation occurs when the process is carried out at
a temperture lower than the recrystallisation temperature.
• Cold working is a manufacturing process used to increase the strength of metals.
Cold working is also known as “Work hardening” or “Strain hardening”
• The temperature is half of absolute melting temperature.
• Cold working is mostly suitable for axisymmetric components
• Blanking
• Tube drawing
• Embossing
• Wire drawing
• Metal spinning
Material suitable for cold working
• Low and medium cardon steel
• Low alloy steels
• Copper and light alloy such as aluminium, magnesium
 Electrical Properties of materials
• Resistivity : Material resisting the flow of electric current .

• Conductivity: Material allowing the flow of electric current.

• Temperature coefficient of Resistance: Change in resistance of material with

change in temperature .

• Permittivity: The ability of material to withstand high voltage.

• Thermoelectricity : Also known as PELTIER EFFECT, is the direct conversion of

heat into electricity or vice versa through two related mechanisms .
Effects on electrical properties
CONDUCTIVITY:

The effect of cold plastic deformation on the electrical conductivity properties

of different materials:

• The plastic deformation that occurs at the deforming of the specimen and the
varying of the conductivity properties were the main subject of this study.
• Aluminium, copper and brass were used as the test materials in the
experiments. Measurement results of the deformed specimens were obtained
with a conductivity meter instrument.
• Finally, it is concluded that in general electrical conductivity decreases slightly
due to plastic deformation of the deformed materials.
RESISTIVITY:
• Cold working disturbs the crystal
structure of metals which
interfere with the movement of
electrons in metal, due to which
the resistivity of metal increases.
• Raises the electrical resistivity of
alloys because of increased
numbers of electron-scattering
dislocations, which in turn
lowers the electrical
conductivity.