Increasing amounts of cold
work progressively increase strength and hardness and reduce ductility until
the point of fracture is reached. Hence the need to anneal periodically to restore
the soft, ductile condition. Often measured as the percentage reduction in cross-sectional
area or thickness (in the case of strip or sheet).
Cold Working
The processes for deforming
a metal or alloy at temperatures below the annealing
temperature, usually at ambient temperature. For example, drawing
gold into wire or tube or rolling
into sheet or strip.