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Cold working
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Metallurgy/1SANyxX4">metallurgy</a>, cold forming or cold working is any <a href="/facts/Metalworking/eAT0Pvz2">metalworking</a> process in which <a href="/facts/Metal/pqQVs8QU">metal</a> is shaped below its <a href="/facts/Recrystallization_temperature/ESt060Ib">recrystallization temperature</a>, usually at the ambient temperature at or near room temperature. Such processes are contrasted with <a href="/facts/Hot_working/oPVX3MQg">hot working</a> techniques like <a href="/facts/Rolling_(metalworking)/FQ6AQVld">hot rolling</a>, <a href="/facts/Forging/SYFomJNp">forging</a>, <a href="/facts/Welding/6EJ62mYV">welding</a>, etc.: p.375 The same or similar terms are used in <a href="/facts/Glassmaking/aErFHSUC">glassmaking</a> for the equivalents; for example <a href="/facts/Cut_glass/AjbtPSKI">cut glass</a> is made by "cold work", cutting or grinding a formed object. </p><p>Cold forming techniques are usually classified into four major groups: squeezing, bending, drawing, and shearing. They generally have the advantage of being simpler to carry out than hot working techniques. </p><p>Unlike hot working, cold working causes the <a href="/facts/Crystallite/nXSgR0wp">crystal grains</a> and inclusions to distort following the flow of the metal; which may cause <a href="/facts/Work_hardening/Jh38U7rz">work hardening</a> and <a href="/facts/Anisotropic/YMqTQWVB">anisotropic</a> material properties. Work hardening makes the metal <a href="/facts/Hardness/PtGn6E20">harder</a>, <a href="/facts/Stiffness/xlabLkfT">stiffer</a>, and <a href="/facts/Strength_of_materials/CE77cUcB">stronger</a>, but less <a href="/facts/Plasticity_(physics)/2VKo6keA">plastic</a>, and may <a href="/facts/Fatigue_(material)/zmJY8hMt">cause cracks</a> of the piece.: p.378 </p><p>The possible uses of cold forming are extremely varied, including large flat sheets, complex folded shapes, metal tubes, <a href="/facts/Screw/Rr0k38TC">screw</a> heads and threads, <a href="/facts/Rivet/bKANfJva">riveted</a> joints, and much more. </p>