The Influence of Progressive Cold Work on Pure Copper

Abstract

THE hardening effect of the various forms of cold work on metals and alloys has long been known and utilised in the arts, and in recent years various theories have been put forward to explain the phenomena observed. Few attempts, however, have been made to test whether any quantitative relationship exists between the amount of cold work done upon a metal and the magnitude of the change in its properties. A serious and well-planned attempt to obtain information of this kind has been made by Mr. Alkins, who presented a paper at the September meeting of the Institute of Metals on the change in the tensile strength of copper-wire as it is progressively hardened by cold-drawing in the ordinary way. Copper was chosen as the experimental material for the following reasons:—