Hot forging of new copper alloys with reduced lead content for water pipe fittings

摘要

This article presents the results of studies conducted as part of the research project entitled "Waste-free technology of forming drinking water pipe fittings from lead-free copper alloys", the goal of which is to develop new flashless forging technology. New flashless forging technology was developed for the body of a water meter and for a plug/stopper in three sizes. Tests of the newly developed copper alloys with limited lead content were performed, including hot upset forging tests, dilatometric tests, microhardness measurements and metallographic investigations. The results of material tests served to supplement the material databases of simulation software, in which the flashless forging technology was verified for various stock materials. Next, numerical simulations were conducted with the goal of verifying the correctness of the developed technology. Data from material tests conducted for three copper alloys was entered into the material database of a commercial simulation program. The numerical picture of the material that was obtained served for simulation of forging. Flashless forging tests were performed to verify the new materials, and verification was done on a modernized testing-forging stand found at Fabryka Armatur Swarzedz Sp. z o.o. The results of these tests were compared with the results of simulations. To improve the stock cutting process, as part of the verification of the flashless forging technology, the influence of the stock material's volume on the obtained shape of the ready forging was compared. The comparison was conducted for the "Plug 1 "forging user an ATOS COMPACT SCAN 5M optical scanner in dedicated GOM Inspect Professional 8 software.