Copper has been used to forge various materials since medieval times. Back then, blacksmiths hammered copper ore while cold and only heated the metal to harden it. However, times have changed, and various copper forging companies use more innovative ways to forge copper. Here’s how copper is forged.
The forging process
Like other metal forging processes, dies or forging tooling is designed and created according to the design specifications. Next, the copper is cut to the requisite length and heated to the required temperature in the furnace.
The heated copper is placed in the forging dies and pressed into the desired shape. Here the forged blank is starting to take shape and looks a lot like the final product. Now remove the flash of the copper forgings and blast them to refine the shape and look more like the final design.
Processing after forging
Once completed, the copper forgings are heat-treated or solution treated to dissolve any residual alloying elements and help create a singular phase structure. Next, the forgings are quenched to lock in this micro structure at room temperature. Lastly, they are heat-treated again but at a lower temperature than the first time to help increase their strength.
Forging copper alloys
Copper and its alloys showcase great ductility malleability and, as such, are considered easy to forge. The easiest copper alloy to hot forge is brass, one containing 38% zinc, a bit of lead, and copper. Copper alloys can also be cold-forged, and this method is great for making small-sized components.
Additionally, it increases the forging’s strength; however, its ductility will be greatly reduced. Regardless, you can re-establish it by putting the forging through an annealing heat treatment. Unfortunately, while the ductility will increase, its strength will reduce.
Both pure copper and its alloys are relatively easy to forge, using both hot or cold forging techniques. Additionally, the forgings can easily be machined to final specifications.