The hot working range is the allowable temperature range in which a metal can be plastically deformed (and therefore hot worked) without cracking, tearing, or suffering a loss of structure to the process. A hot working range will allow a metal to be soft enough to shape while avoiding damage from excessive heating or strain.

Key Features:   

• Above Recrystallization Temperature: Hot working is always done above this temperature when working with metals. This means that at hot working temperatures, new grains can form, preventing the metal from strain hardening.
• Material Range: The hot working range for each type of material can be different, but general sections can be drawn. For example, in the case of steel, the hot working range is generally between 900°C and 1200°C.
• No defect formation: As long as a metal is deformed properly within the hot working range, defects will not occur (there will be no surface or internal cracks, oxidation, or grain coarsening).

The hot working range is critical for all hot process metal forming processes such as forging, rolling, extrusion, and hot pressing. In the forging process, for example, if the steel is deformed within its hot working range, the base material should have improved consistency and toughness with no defects. By controlling the temperature during the hot working process, we can maintain product quality, prevent loss of material in the process, and protect the life of the industry tool during production.