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Any malleable metal material, generally referred to as a ductile alloy, can be used in cold forming technology.
The choice of a suitable material for cold forming is primarily governed by the required technical specifications and properties of the component being produced. For case hardening and tempering, generally boron alloyed steels are used in cold forming.
It may be that heat treatment or hardening of the parts is unavoidable because of the required tensile properties. Boron does lend itself to such applications, as it improves the hardening effects of heat treatment, without influencing the cold formability of the material. Boron steels are thus frequently used in cold forming for the manufacture of case hardened and tempered products.
Pre-heat-treated steels and alloys with a high sulphur content can be used as special materials in cold forming. The former eliminate the need for subsequent heat treatment while the latter aid secondary machining processes.
Engineering steel alloys containing chrome, molybdenum and nickel also make for suitable materials for cold forming. For the best results, carbide distribution and a low silicon content are ideal. Thanks to their grain structure and high ductility, highly alloyed austenitic chrome-nickel alloys are also suitable.
Stainless steels with good formability and those with marked work hardening responses are also a good choice.
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