From ancient craftsmanship to high-tech science, metal processing has evolved into a sophisticated discipline that combines traditional methods with cutting-edge physics and chemistry.
Humanity has been shaping metals into tools, weapons, and art since ancient times, laying the foundation for modern metallurgy.
Today's researchers manipulate metals at microscopic levels, creating materials with unprecedented properties for aerospace, medical, and smart applications.
Metal forming relies on plastic deformation without material loss, governed by microscopic crystal defects that determine a metal's malleability 2 .
When pressure is applied, microscopic defects like dislocations, vacancies, and grain boundaries move and interact, determining how successfully a material can be formed.
Deformation-Thermocyclic Treatment combines mechanical action with cyclic temperature changes, increasing strength by approximately 30% and plasticity by over 50% in steel 10 1 .
This revolutionary method uses high-density electric current during mechanical processing to significantly increase material plasticity, especially in hard-to-form alloys 2 .
| Parameter | Traditional | Electroplastic |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Consumption | High | 20-30% Lower |
| Processing Temperature | Often High | Room Temperature Possible |
| Material Range | Standard Alloys | Hard-to-Form Alloys |
Preparation of specimens from hot-rolled steel grade 10
Deformation-thermocyclic processing at strictly controlled temperatures and deformation degrees
Heat treatment of pre-processed specimens at optimized temperature-time parameters
Thorough examination of mechanical properties and microstructure
| Processing Parameter | Microstructural Effect | Property Influence |
|---|---|---|
| DTCO Temperature | Grain size, dislocation density | Strength, plasticity |
| Deformation Degree | Residual stress level | Yield strength, impact toughness |
| Normalization Temp | Grain size, phase composition | Strength/plasticity ratio |
| Normalization Time | Recrystallization degree | Property uniformity |
Modern metallurgy research requires specialized equipment and analytical techniques to study and manipulate materials at microscopic levels.
Equipment that creates controlled deformation under strictly specified temperature-speed parameters
Furnaces with precisely regulated atmosphere ensuring minimal deviation thermal regimes
SEM, TEM, AFM for detailed microstructural investigation at nanoscale resolution
XRD for phase analysis and textures, tomography for non-destructive internal structure control
Computational packages for mathematical modeling of deformation processes and property prediction
Ultrafine-grained structures with grain size down to 1 micron for exceptional mechanical properties
Creating materials that combine different properties unattainable in mono-metallic materials for aerospace and automotive applications .
Novel approaches to control texture and properties of sheet materials, especially for titanium alloys with expanding applications .
Metal forming combines centuries-old traditions with cutting-edge science, from ancient blacksmiths to modern materials scientists exploring new ways to shape metals with desired properties.
DTCO and electroplastic deformation enable unprecedented material design
Physics, chemistry, mechanics and computing converge for breakthrough technologies
Combined processing methods significantly improve plastic properties while maintaining adequate strength characteristics, opening new possibilities for optimizing steel production technology and expanding its applications in engineering and other industries 1 .