New strip drawing experiments using transparent sapphire dies

Abstract

Experimental results are presented for carefully controlled plane-strain strip drawing experiments. Transparent aluminum oxide (sapphire) dies have been used to make direct observations of the die-work interface in strip drawing, including the distortion of scribed lines which were used for estimating velocity profiles at the interface. Such profiles can be used as input to theoretical models (Appleby et al., 1984), thus permitting the calculation of interface friction rather than requiring its assumption. Experiments were conducted with tungsten carbide, as well as sapphire, dies in which process parameters such as reduction, speed, die angle, lubricant, and back tension were varied, and die separating forces and drawing loads were measured. In general the friction was lower for the sapphire dies, but the variation with process parameters was similar. For one experiment, residual stresses in the product strip were measured. The results are believed to be documented in sufficient detail to be of general use in evaluating theoretical models.