<p>Electrically assisted manufacturing is the direct application of an electric current or field to a workpiece during a manufacturing operation. In addition to resistive heating, various anomalous effects have been observed experimentally. Since its conception in the 1950s, scientists continue to debate the existence of these so called electroplastic effects (EPEs) due to conflicted results shown throughout literature. A popular theory of electroplasticity is the electron wind, which postulates that there is a transfer of momentum between electron movement and dislocations, which assists their motion during deformation. Though mathematically refuted and refuted experimentally in other types of tests, the existence of polarity effects in wire drawing can be used to support the electron wind theory, and therefore, electroplasticity.<br>
A detailed review of the literature that has shown polarity effects in wire drawing was conducted. While the authors of these publications failed to fully disclose all test parameters, requiring several assumptions to be made, it appears that no mathematical/logical trends could be established. It was hypothesized herein that the drawing velocity of the wire can influence the drift velocity of electrons, thereby increasing or decreasing current flow explicitly through the moving section of the wire. In order to test this hypothesis, a fixture was constructed herein which is capable of passing a current through a moving wire at common wire drawing speeds. Modern equipment was used to measure various electrical parameters during testing. This hypothesis was refuted from experimental testing. While the results thus far indicate the existence of electroplasticity, further testing must be conducted in order to fully conclude its existence in the wire drawing application.</p>

Electrically Assisted Wire Drawing Polarity Effects

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/MSEC/MSEC2021/volume/85062

2021 International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (MSEC2021)

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