Materials in metal forming

Abstract

In this chapter, a review of the materials involved in the metal-forming processes and some of the processing required before forming on the materials are provided. At first the details of the materials formability definition and applications in different forming processes are discussed. Formability is one of the most important characteristics of the engineering alloys. Subsequently, information on the materials used for metal-forming tools and dies and their selection criteria are provided. These tool and die materials are categorized based on the process details and their limitation is further discussed. A brief look at the lubricants used in metal forming covers a subsequent topic in the current work and focuses on the effectiveness, characterization (friction reduction), types, and general applications as well as additives used in the lubricants. Lastly, a concise summary of the raw material preparation for forming processes is covered, with main focus on casting and heat treatment. These are the main preprocessing routes for preparing the preform in the industry. This chapter serves as a quick reference of forming process material selection for researchers, engineers, and students in the mechanical and materials engineering field.