Hail University

College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Metal Extrusion and Drawing

Processes and Equipment
Ch 15
Metal Extrusion and Drawing
Extrusion and drawing involve, respectively, pushing or pulling a
material through a die basically for the purpose of reducing or
changing its cross-sectional area.
Extrusion and drawing have numerous applications in the
manufacture of continuous as well as discrete products from a wide
variety of metals and alloys.

In extrusion, a cylindrical billet is forced through a die in a manner

similar to squeezing toothpaste from a tube or extruding Play-Doh
,in various cross sections in a toy press.
 Metal Extrusion
Typical products made by extrusion are railings for sliding doors,
window frames, tubing having various cross sections, aluminum
ladder frames, and numerous structural and architectural shapes.
Extrusions can be cut into desired lengths, which then become
discrete parts, such as brackets, gears, and coat hangers
Commonly extruded
materials are aluminum,
copper, steel, magnesium,
and lead; other metals

Depending on the
ductility of the material,
extrusion is carried out
at room or elevated
temperatures. Extrusion
at room temperature
often is combined with
forging operations, in
which case it generally
is known as cold Extrusions and examples of products made by
extrusion sectioning off extrusions
Drawing

In drawing, the cross section of solid rod, wire, or tubing is reduced

or changed in shape by pulling it through a die. Drawn rods are used
for shafts, spindles, and small pistons and as the raw material for
fasteners (such as rivets, bolts, and screws). In addition to round
rods, various profiles can be drawn.
The distinction between the terms rod and wire is somewhat
arbitrary, with rod taken to be larger in cross section than wire. In
industry, wire generally is defined as a rod that has been drawn
through a die at least once, or its diameter is small enough so that it
can be coiled.

Wire drawing involves smaller diameters than rod drawing, with

sizes down to 0.01 mm for magnet wire and even smaller for use in
very low current fuses.
The Extrusion Process
There are three basic types of extrusion. In the most common process
(called direct or forward extrusion), a billet is placed in a chamber
(container) and forced through a die opening by a hydraulically
driven ram (pressing stem or punch),
The die opening may be round, or it may have various shapes, depending
on the desired profile.
The function of the dummy block shown in the figure is to protect the tip of
the pressing stem (punch), particularly in hot extrusion.

Other Types of extrusion: (a) indirect; (b) hydrostatic; (c) lateral.

 Types of extrusion

Indirect extrusion has the advantage of having no billet-container

friction, since there is no relative motion. Thus, indirect extrusion is
used on materials with very high friction, such as high strength steels.
In hydrostatic extrusion the billet is smaller in diameter than the
chamber (which is filled with a fluid), and the pressure is transmitted
to the fluid by a ram. The fluid pressure results in triaxial compressive
stresses acting on the workpiece and thus improved formability; also,
there is much less workpiece-container friction than in direct
extrusion.

A less common type of extrusion is lateral (or side) extrusion

Extrusion Force
the geometric variables in extrusion are the die angle, α, and the
ratio of the cross-sectional area of the billet to that of the extruded
product, A0/Af; called the extrusion ratio, R. Other variables are the
temperature of the billet, the speed at which the ram travels, and
the type of lubricant used.

Process variables in direct extrusion. The die angle, reduction in cross

section, extrusion speed, billet temperature, and lubrication all affect the
extrusion pressure.
Extrusion Force
The force required for extrusion depends on (a) the strength of the
billet material, (b) the extrusion ratio, (c) the friction between the
billet and the chamber and die surfaces, and (d) process variables,
such as the temperature of the billet and the speed of extrusion.

The extrusion force, F, can be

estimated from the formula

where k is the extrusion constant

(which is determined experimentally)
and Ao and Af are the billet and extruded
product areas, respectively.

Extrusion constant k for various

metals at different temperatures.
Metal Flow in Extrusion.
The metal flow pattern in extrusion, as in other forming processes, is important
because of its influence on the quality and the mechanical properties of the
extruded product.
typical flow patterns for the case of direct extrusion with square dies
(a 90° die angle)

Types of metal flow in extruding with square dies. (a) Flow pattern obtained at low friction
or in indirect extrusion. (b) Pattern obtained with high friction at the billet–chamber
interfaces. (c) Pattern obtained at high friction or with cooling of the outer regions of the
billet in the chamber. This type of pattern, observed in metals whose strength increases
rapidly with decreasing temperature, leads to a defect known as pipe (or extrusion)
defect.
 Process Parameters

Because they have high ductility, wrought aluminum, capper; and

magnesium and their alloys, as well as steels and stainless steels,
are extruded with relative ease into numerous shapes.
In practice, extrusion ratios, R, usually range from about 10 to 100.
They may be higher for special applications (400 for softer
nonferrous metals) or lower for less ductile materials, although the
ratio usually has to be at least 4 to deform the material plastically
through the bulk of the workpiece

Extruded products usually are less than 7.5 m long because of the
difficulty in handling greater lengths, but they can be as long as 30 m.
Ram speeds range up to 0.5 m/s. Generally, lower speeds are
preferred for aluminum, magnesium, and copper, higher speeds for
steels, titanium, and refractory alloys. Dimensional tolerances in
extrusion are usually in the range from , and they
increase with increasing cross section.
Process Parameters

The presence of a die angle causes a small portion of the end of the
billet to remain in the chamber after the operation has been
completed. This portion (called scrap or the butt end) subsequently
,is removed by cutting off the extrusion at the die exit and removing
the scrap from the chamber. Alternatively, another billet or a
graphite block may be placed in the chamber to extrude the piece
remaining from the previous extrusion.

In coaxial extrusion, or cladding, coaxial billets are extruded

together provided that the strength and ductility of the two metals
are compatible.

An example is copper clad with silver. Stepped extrusions are

produced by extruding the billet partially in one die and then in one
or more larger dies
Hot Extrusion
For metals and alloys that do not have sufficient ductility at room
temperature, or in order to reduce the forces required, extrusion is
carried out at elevated temperatures

As in all other hot-working operations, hot extrusion has special

requirements because of the high operating temperatures. For
example, die wear can be excessive, and cooling of the surfaces of
the hot billet (in the cooler chamber) and the die can result in highly
nonuniform deformation.
Hot Extrusion
To reduce cooling of the billet and to prolong die life, extrusion dies may be
preheated, as is done in hot-forging operations.
Because the billet is hot, it develops an oxide film, unless it is heated in an inert-
atmosphere furnace. Oxide films can be abrasive and can affect the flow
pattern of the material. Their presence also results in an extruded product that
may be unacceptable when good surface finish is important. In order to avoid
the formation of oxide films on the hot extruded product, the dummy block
placed ahead of the ram is made a little smaller in diameter than the container.
As a result, a thin shell (skull) consisting mainly of the outer oxidized layer of
the billet is left in the container. The skull is removed later from the chamber

Typical extrusion–die configurations: (a) die for nonferrous metals; (b) die
for ferrous metals; (c) die for a T-shaped extrusion made of hot-work die
steel and used with molten glass as a lubricant
Die Design
Die design requires considerable experience

Tubing is extruded from a solid or hollow billet Wall thickness is

usually limited to 1 mm for aluminum, 3 mm for carbon steels, and 5
mm for stainless steels.

Extrusion of a seamless tube (a) using an internal mandrel that moves

independently of the ram. (An alternative arrangement has the mandrel integral
with the ram.) (b) using a spider die to produce seamless tubing.
Hollow cross sections can be extruded by welding-chamber methods and
using various dies known as a porthole die, spider die, and bridge die

(a) An extruded 6063-T6 aluminum-ladder lock for aluminum extension ladders.

This part is 8 mm (5/16 in.) thick and is sawed from the extrusion (b) through (d)
Components of various dies for extruding intricate hollow shapes.
Die Design

Some guidelines for proper die design in extrusion are illustrated. Note
the (a) importance of symmetry of cross section, (b) avoidance of sharp
corners, and (c) avoidance of extreme changes in die dimensions within
the cross section.

Poor and good examples of cross sections to be extruded. Note the

importance of eliminating sharp corners and of keeping section
thicknesses uniform..
 Die Materials
Die materials for hot extrusion usually are hot-worked die steels
Coatings (such as partially stabilized zirconia) may be applied to
the dies to extend their life. Partially stabilized zirconia dies also
are used for hot extrusion of tubes and rods.

However, they are not suitable for making dies for extruding
complex shapes, because of the severe stress gradients developed
in the die, which may lead to their premature failure.

Lubrication.
Lubrication is important in hot extrusion because of its effects on
(a) material flow during extrusion, (b) surface finish and integrity, (c) product
quality, and (d) extrusion forces.
For metals that have a tendency to stick to the container and the die, the billet
can be enclosed in a thin-walled container, or jacket, made of a softer and
lower strength metal, such as copper or mild steel. This procedure is called
jacketing or canning. In addition to acting as a low-friction interface, the jacket
prevents contamination of the billet by the environment. Also, if the billet
material is toxic or radioactive, the jacket prevents it from contaminating the
environment.
Example of hot extrusion Manufacture of Aluminum Heat Sinks

Aluminum is used widely to transfer heat for both cooling and heating
applications because of its very high thermal conductivity. In fact, on a
weight-to-cost basis, no other material conducts heat as economically as
does aluminum.

a) Aluminum extrusion used as a heat sink for a printed circuit

(
board, (b) Extrusion die and extruded heat sinks.
 Cold Extrusion
Cold extrusion is a general term that often denotes a combination
of operations, such as direct and indirect extrusion and forging

The cold-extrusion process

uses slugs cut from cold-
finished or hot-rolled bars,
wire, or plates. Slugs that
are less than about 40 mm
in diameter are sheared
(cropped), and if
necessary, their ends are
squared off by processes
such as upsetting,
machining, or grinding

Two examples of cold extrusion. Thin arrows

indicate the direction of metal flow during extrusion.
The force, F, in cold extrusion may be estimated from the formula
 Cold extrusion has the following advantages
over hot extrusion:
Improved mechanical properties resulting from work hardening,
provided that the heat generated by plastic deformation and friction
does not recrystallize the extruded metal.

Good control of dimensional tolerances, reducing the need for

subsequent machining or finishing operations.

Improved surface finish, due partly to the absence of an oxide film

and provided that lubrication is effective.

Production rates and costs that are competitive with those of other
methods of producing the same part, such as machining. Some
machines are capable of producing more than 2000 parts per hour.
The magnitude of the stresses on the tooling in cold extrusion, however, is very
high (especially with steel and specialty-alloy work pieces), being on the order
of the hardness of the work piece material. The punch hardness usually ranges
between 60 and 65 HRC and the die hardness between 58 and 62 HRC.
Punches are a critical component, as they must possess not only sufficient
strength, but also sufficient toughness and resistance to wear and fatigue
failure.
 Cold-extruded Part

Production steps for a cold-extruded

spark plug. A cross section of the metal part
showing the grain-flow pattern
Impact Extrusion

Impact extrusion is similar to indirect extrusion, and the process

often is included in the cold-extrusion category. The punch
descends rapidly on the blank (slug), which is extruded backwards
Most nonferrous metals can be impact extruded in vertical presses and at
production rates as high as two parts per second.

Schematic illustration of the impact-extrusion process. The extruded parts are

stripped by the use of a stripper plate, because they tend to stick to the punch.
Impact Extrusion

Impact extrusion of a collapsible tube by the Hooker process. (b) and (c) Two
examples of products made by impact extrusion. These parts also may be made by
casting, forging, or machining. The choice of process depends on the materials
involved, part dimensions and wall thickness, and the properties desired. Economic
considerations also are important in final process selection.
Extrusion Defects
Depending on workpiece material condition and process variables,
extruded products can develop several types of defects that can
affect significantly their strength and product quality.

There are three principal extrusion defects: surface cracking, pipe,

and internal cracking

Surface Cracking. If extrusion temperature, friction, or speed is too

high, surface temperatures can rise significantly, which may cause
surface cracking and tearing (fir tree cracking or speed cracking).
These cracks are intergranular (i.e., along the grain boundaries; and
usually are caused by hot shortness .
This situation can be avoided by lowering the billet temperature and the
extrusion speed.
Surface cracking also may occur at lower temperatures, where it has been
attributed to periodic sticking of the extruded product along the die
land. Because of the similarity in appearance to the surface of a bamboo
stem, it is known as a bamboo defect.
Extrusion Defects

Pipe. The type of metal-flow pattern in extrusion tends to draw

surface oxides and impurities toward the center of the billet-much
like a funnel. This defect is known as pipe defect, tailpipe, or
fishtailing. As much as one-third of the length of the extruded
product may contain this type of defect and thus has to be cut off
as scrap.

Piping can be minimized by modifying the flow pattern to be more

uniform, such as by controlling friction and minimizing
temperature gradients. Another method is to machine the billet's
surface prior to extrusion, so that scale and surface impurities are
removed. These impurities also can be removed by the chemical
etching of the surface oxides prior to extrusion
Extrusion Defects
Internal Cracking. The center of the extruded product can develop
cracks, called center cracking, center-burst, arrowhead fracture, or
chevron cracking

(a) Chevron cracking (central burst) in extruded round steel bars. Unless
the products are inspected, such internal defects may remain undetected
and later cause failure of the part in service. This defect can also develop
in the drawing of rod, of wire, and of tubes. (b) Schematic illustration of
rigid and plastic zones in extrusion. cracking increases if the two plastic
zones do not meet. Note that the plastic zone can be made larger either
by decreasing the die angle, by increasing the reduction in cross section,
or both.
 Extrusion Equipment
The basic equipment for extrusion is a horizontal hydraulic press. These presses
are suitable for extrusion because the stroke and speed of the operation can be
controlled, depending on the particular application. They are capable of applying
a constant force over a long stroke.

Hydraulic presses
with a ram-force
capacity as high as
120 MN have been
built, particularly
for hot extrusion of
large-diameter
billets.

General view of a 9-MN (1000-ton) hydraulic-extrusion press.

The Drawing Process
In drawing, the cross section of a long rod or wire is reduced or
changed by pulling (hence the term drawing) it through a die called a
draw die
Thus, the difference between drawing and extrusion is that in extrusion the
material is pushed through a die, whereas in drawing it is pulled through it.

Process variables in wire drawing. The die angle, the reduction in cross
sectional area per pass, the speed of drawing, the temperature, and the
lubrication all affect the drawing force, F.
 Drawing Force
Drawing Force. The expression for the drawing force, F, under ideal
and frictionless conditions is similar to that for extrusion and is
given by the equation

where YavII is the average true stress of the material in the die gap. Because more
work has to be done to overcome friction, the force increases with increasing
friction. Furthermore, because of the nonuniform deformation that occurs within
the die zone, additional energy (known as the redundant work of deformation) is
required. Although various equations have been developed to estimate the force
(described in greater detaill in advanced texts), a useful formula that includes
friction and the redundant work is

where α is the die angle in radians.

The Drawing Process

As can be seen from these equations, the drawing force increases as

reduction increases. However, there has to be a limit to the
magnitude of the force, because when the tensile stress reaches the
yield stress of the metal being drawn, the workpiece will simply yield
and, eventually, break. It can be shown that, ideally and without
friction, the maximum reduction in cross-sectional area per pass is
63%. Thus, a 10-mm-diameter rod can be reduced (at most) to a
diameter of 6.1 mm in one pass without failure.

It can be shown that, for a certain reduction in diameter and a certain

frictional condition, there is an optimum die angle at which the
drawing force is a minimum. Often, however, the die force is not the
major product quality concern, and the actual die angle may deviate
from this value.
Drawing of Other Shapes
Various solid cross sections can be produced by drawing through dies with
different profiles. Proper die design and the proper selection of

reduction sequence
per pass require
considerable
experience to ensure
proper material flow
in the die, reduce
internal or external
defects, and improve
surface quality.

Examples of tube-drawing operations, with and without an internal mandrel.

Note that a variety of diameters and wall thicknesses can be produced from
the same initial tube stock (which has been made by other processes).
Drawing Practice

As in all metalworking processes, successful drawing requires careful

selection of process parameters. In drawing, reductions in the cross-
sectional area per pass range up to about 45%.

Usually, the smaller the initial cross section, the smaller the reduction
per pass. Fine wires usually are drawn at 15 to 25% reduction per
pass and larger sizes at 20 to 45%.

Reductions of higher than 45% may result in lubricant breakdown,

leading to surface-finish deterioration. Although most drawing is done
at room temperature, drawing large solid or hollow sections can be
done at elevated temperatures in order to reduce forces
A light reduction (sizing pass) also may be taken on rods to improve their
surface finish and dimensional accuracy. However; because they basically
deform only the surface layers, light reductions usually produce highly
nonuniform deformation of the material and its microstructure. Consequently,
the properties of the material will vary with location within the cross section.
 Drawing Practice
rod or wire has to have its tip reduced in cross section in order to be
fed through the die opening and be pulled. This typically is done by
swaging the tip of the rod or wire; this operation is called pointing.
Drawing speeds depend on the material and on the reduction in cross-
sectional area. They may range from 1 to 2.5 m/s for heavy sections
to as much as 50 m/s for very fine wire, such as that used for
electromagnets. Because the product does not have sufficient time to
dissipate the heat generated, temperatures can rise substantially at
high drawing speeds and can have detrimental effects on product
quality.
Bundle Drawing
Although very fine wire can be produced by drawing, the cost can be
high. One method employed to increase productivity is to draw many
wires (a hundred or more) simultaneously as a bundle. The wires are
separated from one another by a suitable metallic material with
similar properties, but lower chemical resistance (so that it
subsequently can be leached out from the drawn-wire surfaces).
These wires are then used in applications such as electrically conductive plastics, heat-
resistant and electrically conductive textiles, filter media, radar camouflage, and medical
implants. The wires produced can be as small as 4 /l-m in diameter and can be made
from such materials as stainless steels, titanium, and high-temperature alloys.
 Die Design
Die angles usually range from 6° to 15°. Note, however, that there are two angles
(entering and approach) in a typical die. The purpose of the bearing surface
( land) is to set the final diameter of the product (sizing) and to maintain this
diameter even with wear on the die-workpiece interface.
A set of dies is required
for profile drawing,
which involves various
stages of deformation to
produce the final profile.
The dies may be made in
one piece or (depending
on the complexity of the
cross-sectional profile)
with several segments
held together in a
retaining ring.

Terminology pertaining to a typical die used for drawing a round rod or wire.
Die Materials
Die materials for drawing typically are tool steels and carbides. For hot
drawing, cast-steel dies are used because of their high resistance to
wear at elevated temperatures.
Diamond dies are used for
drawing fine wire with
diameters ranging from 2
µm to 1.5 mm. They may
be made from a single-
crystal diamond or in
polycrystalline form with
diamond particles in a metal
matrix (compacts). Because
of their very low tensile
strength and toughness,
carbide and diamond dies
typical1y are used as inserts
or nibs, which are
supported in a steel casing Tungsten-carbide die insert in a steel casing.
Diamond dies used in drawing thin wire are
encased in a similar manner.
Lubrication

Proper lubrication is essential in drawing in order to improve die life

and product surface finish and to reduce drawing forces and
temperature. Lubrication is critical, particularly in tube drawing,
because of the difficulty of maintaining a sufficiently thick lubricant
film at the mandrel-tube interface. In the drawing of rods, a common
method of lubrication uses phosphate coatings.
The fol1owing are the basic methods of lubrication used in wire
drawing :
•Wet drawing, in which the dies and the rod are immersed completely in the
lubricant
•Dry drawing, in which the surface of the rod to be drawn is coated with a
lubricant by passing it through a box filled with the lubricant (stuffing box)
•Metal coating, in which the rod or wire is coated with a soft metal, such as
copper or tin, that acts as a solid lubricant
•Ultrasonic vibration of the dies and mandrels; in this process, vibrations
reduce forces, improve surface finish and die life, and allow larger reductions
per pass without failure.
Drawing Defects and Residual Stresses
Typical defects in a drawn rod or wire are similar to those observed
in extrusion, especially center cracking

Another major type of defect in drawing is seams, which are longitudinal

scratches or folds in the material. Seams may open up during subsequent
forming operations (such as upsetting, heading, thread rolling, or bending of the
rod or wire), and they can cause serious quality-control problems. Various other
surface defects (such as scratches and die marks) also can result from improper
selection of the process parameters, poor lubrication, or poor die condition.
Because they undergo nonuniform deformation during drawing, cold-drawn
products usually have residual stresses

For light reductions, such as only a few percent, the longitudinal-surface

residual stresses are compressive (while the bulk is in tension) and fatigue life
is thus improved. Conversely, heavier reductions induce tensile surface
stresses (while the bulk is in compression). Residual stresses can be
significant in causing stress-corrosion cracking of the part over time. Moreover,
they cause the component to warp if a layer of material subsequently is
removed
 Drawing Equipment
Although it is available in several designs, the equipment for
drawing is basically of two types: the draw bench and the bull block.

A draw bench contains a single die, and its design is similar to that
of a long, horizontal tension-testing machine
The pulling force is supplied by a chain drive or is activated hydraulically. Draw
benches are used for a single-length drawing of straight rods and tubes with
diameters larger than 20 mm and lengths up to 30 m. Machine capacities reach
1.3 MN of pulling force with a speed range of 6 to 60 m/min.

Cold drawing of an extruded channel on a draw bench to reduce its cross section.
Individual lengths of straight rods or of cross sections are drawn by this method.
 Drawing Equipment
Very long rods and wire (many kilometers) and wire of smaller cross sections,
usually less than 13 mm, are drawn by a rotating drum (bull block or capstan,

The tension in this setup provides the force required for drawing the wire,
usually through multiple dies (tandem drawing).

An illustration of multistage wire drawing typically used to produce copper

wire for electrical wiring.