Analysis of Manufacturing Bimetallic Tubes by the Cold Drawing Process

Abstract

Drawing processes apply to obtain the bimetallic tubes from the different metals and alloys, combined in the solid state, which significantly affects the specificity of this process. The manufacturing of bimetallic tubes by drawing process depends on many factors which include: preparation of the surface of materials joined in the solid state, the geometric parameters of the working tool, technological parameters of the drawing process (drawing speed, type of lubricant, the use of back pull etc.). Generally, the cold drawing process of producing the bimetallic tubes refers to metals which have high ductility (copper, aluminum, etc.). The tube sinking (tube drawing without a mandrel) of bimetallic tubes together with joining them at the interface of the two metal in the solid-state is applied for tubes of the diameter range between 6 to 20 mm and based on of the reducing the diameter of the tube. However, a slight increase of wall thickness ca. 0.05 ÷ 0.10 mm can appear, which is not dangerous phenomenon in case of producing the bimetallic tubes by joining in the solid-state. The aim of the research was to investigate the technology of tubes drawing process from non-ferrous metal, drawing process of bimetallic tubes and the production of bimetallic tubes in layers composition: cooper Cu-ETP - brass CuZn37 and CuZn37 brass - copper Cu-ETP in the tube sinking process. The research program included: production of bimetallic tubes with a different composition (Cu- ETP-CuZn37 and CuZn37-Cu-ETP) and a different percentage of the cross-section components; analysis of changes of tube wall thickness and the layer composition of the bimetallic tube, based on measurements on the workshop microscope; analysis of the material flow in the process of the bimetallic tubes production based on the measurements results of a profilograph CP-200.