Dry drawing is an essential procedure in transforming steel rods into wires. However, it results in extensive work hardening and wires requiring patenting to restore the microstructure and hence ductility to prevent premature failure. This increases processing time and high stresses limit service life of drawing dies. However, the application of pulsed electric current has been reported to reduce the stress required to deform a metal in uniaxial tension and enhance deformation making the material easier to work. This could slow the work hardening rate of wires and therefore reduce the necessity for patenting and reduce wear on dies. To date, confined usage of the technique suggests it is either not well understood or lacks its acclaimed benefits.
This review was submitted as part of the 2018 Materials Literature Review Prize of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining run by the Editorial Board of MST. Sponsorship of the prize by TWI Ltd is gratefully acknowledged.
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