Determining the Suitability of Low Carbon Steel Wire for the Dieless Drawing Process

Abstract

Dieless wire drawing is the process of causing a reduction in a wire or bar diameter, without the use of conventional wire drawing dies. In this process, the dies are replaced by a heat source, e.g. an induction coil. The wire is pulled through the heat source to allow local stretching of the metal, in the heated zone. The current paper investigates an experimental elevated tensile test model in an attempt to assess the suitability of low carbon steel to the dieless drawing process. The tests were completed on two grades of low carbon steel at various deformation rates at temperatures up to 800 °C. The tensile tests were carried out on a modified Hounsfield tensile testing machine. The tensile strength and the percent elongation of each sample were recorded after each test. Stress-strain data were obtained from each experiment and these results were evaluated to determine the change in mechanical properties of each sample at the various temperatures. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was performed on the samples to determine the extent and composition of the oxide layer, which formed on the surface of the samples at the various test temperatures. Photomicrographs were taken of the deformation zone to examine the grain structure after the specimens were tested.