Forging temperature is the temperature at which a metal becomes substantially more soft, but is lower than the melting temperature, such that it can be reshaped by forging. Bringing a metal to its forging temperature allows the metal's shape to be changed by applying a relatively small force, without creating cracks. For most metals, forging temperature is approximately 70% of the absolute temperature (usually measured in kelvins) of its melting point.
Selecting the maximum forging temperature allows metals to be forged more easily, lowering the forging pressure and thus the wear on metal-forming dies. The temperature at which a metal is forged can affect the homogeneity in microstructure and mechanical properties of forged products, which can highly affect the performance of products used in manufacturing.
| Material | Forging Temperature | Melting point | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celsius | Fahrenheit | °C | |
| Carbon steel - 0.50% carbon content | 1230 | 2246 | ~1425-1540 |
| Stainless steel (Nonmagnetic) | 1150 | 2102 | ~1400-1530 |
| Stainless steel (Magnetic) | 1095 | 2003 | ~1400-1530 |
| Nickel | 1095 | 2003 | 1453 |
| Titanium | 955 | 1751 | 1660 |
| Copper | 900 | 1652 | 1083 |
| Brass (25 alloy types with varying ratios of copper and zinc) | 815 | 1499 | ~900-940 |
| Commercial bronze (90% copper and 10% tin) | 900 to 419.53 | 1652 to 787.154 | ~950 |
| Aluminium | 300 - 480 | 600 - 900 | 660 |
| Zinc | 419.53 | 787.154 | 420 |
| Lead | 25 | 77 | 327 |
| Iron | 1371 | 2500 | 1535 |
| Tin | 231.93 | 449.474 | 232 |
See also
- Plasticity
- Tammann and Hüttig temperatures – Chemical properties of materials
Notes
References
"Metals - Melting Temperatures". The Engineering ToolBox. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/melting-temperature-metals-d_860.html ↩
"Forging of Carbon Steels". Metal Pass. http://www.metalpass.com/metaldoc/paper.aspx?docID=237 ↩
Irani, M.; Karimi Taheri, A. (2008). "Effect of forging temperature on homogeneity of microstructure and hardness of precision forged steel spur gear" (PDF). Materials Chemistry and Physics. 112 (3): 1099–1105. doi:10.1016/j.matchemphys.2008.07.044. http://www.ewp.rpi.edu/hartford/~ernesto/F2010/EP1/Materials4Students/Quinn/Irani2008.pdf ↩
The temperatures of alloys vary depending on the ration of metals mixture ↩
"Forging of Carbon Steels". Metal Pass. http://www.metalpass.com/metaldoc/paper.aspx?docID=237 ↩
'Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys" edited by Joseph R. Davis, p248 ↩
"Forging Iron: A Tutorial". 18 October 2018. https://arironllc.com/blog/forging-iron-a-tutorial ↩