Optimized wire quality with simultaneous conservation of resources through the use of thermomechanical rolling in the modern wire rod mill

18 May 2023 |

Cold formed components, such as high-strength fasteners, are subject to the highest quality demands.

Our aim is to optimize weight and costs while maintaining the same or improved functional properties of the components. Despite the existing immense know-how about the design, manufacture and operating behavior of these components , there are still product and process improvements to be made.

The same ambition applies to the sustainable use of resources, the reduction of processing steps and the reduction or avoidance of CO₂ emissions.

What is thermomechanical rolling (TM rolling)?

Thermomechanical treatment and the processes for controlled hot forming or thermomechanical treatment in forming technology are understood to be the functional combination of forming and heat treatment to achieve certain material properties.

The aim of this technology is the technology-based improvement of product properties while at the same time conserving resources by reducing process costs within the value chain.

Due to the complex rolling challenges involved in wire rolling, this advanced technology was for a long time mainly restricted to wide flat products or could only be used to a very limited extent in the wire sector.

With its modern wire rod mill, voestalpine Wire Rod offers thermomechanical treatment with lowered final rolling temperatures over the entire relevant diameter range from 5 to 60 mm.

The precisely controlled linking of the forming processes and the local rolling temperature enables improvements in microstructure formation and in the adjustments of the mechanical-technological properties.

These novel microstructures of the thermo-mechanically treated wire rod form the basis for a large number of future innovations in the value chain of cold forming.

What are the advantages of TM rolling?

1.Optimized mechanical-technological wire rod properties that result in a significant improvement in the cold formability of the wire rod through grain refinement.

The aim is to optimize the mechanical-technological properties and thus significantly improve the cold formability of the wire rod by grain refinement.

An important application of thermomechanical treatment in wire rolling for our customers and the wire processing industry results in strength reduction and improvement of fracture necking of ferritic-pearlitic wire rod intended for cold forging,

Dr. Robert Kienreich, Senior Application Engineer at voestalpine Wire Rod Austria

2. Saving resources and reducing CO2 emissions by eliminating production steps

Typical process optimizations through applications of thermomechanical treatment for CHQ wire are, for example, the possible elimination of GKZ annealing of B-alloyed quenched and tempered steels for components of strength classes 8.8 to 12.9 or the extended use of AFP steels, also for more special component geometries and higher strength requirements. These process innovations are usually accompanied by innovative alloying concepts with a high degree of purity, the lowest possible scattering of the relevant alloy contents and the lowest by-element contents.

Further potential process simplifications are supported by rolling and technological improvements in terms of surface quality, freedom from cracks, roughness, tighter diameter tolerances and reduced ovality, which are achievable with state-of-the-art wire rod rolling technology across the entire wire rod diameter range from 5.0 mm to 60.0 mm.

"Furthermore, thermomechanical rolling is also considered a resource-saving production process across the entire value chain, as further heat treatment steps can be omitted.

Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Koiner, Head of Application Engineering at voestalpine Wire Rod Austria

Performance in Wire. Are you interested in our wire rod?

We guarantee the highest quality, tightest tolerances and maximum flexibility. In addition, our customers benefit from our comprehensive materials competence and expertise. At the same time, we stand for high-quality further processing within our broad product range.

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