Mag-Forming
Forming of High Hard Armor using Magnetoplasticity
The Mag Forming process is presently capable of achieving 3.3T radius in 0.45” thick Hi-Hard Armor (HHA) plate. The Mag Forming parameters used to achieve these gains include a 400 °F processing temperature, a varying magnetic field strength , and a maximum testing strain rate.
Mag Forming is a ground-breaking process that harnesses magnetoplasticity to repair microscopic fissures and stress fractures before they develop into cracks and stress risers. This unlocks enhanced forming possibilities for metals otherwise unworkable at low temperatures. The evolution of this process is drawn from the failure mode of a hard metal in a typical stamping operation, along with the atom movement seen in hot stamping. The principles behind Mag Forming, although revolutionary, are quite simple. Simply stated, the magnetic field interacts with the electrons on an atomic level, which causes them to shift. This shifting of atoms allows for enhanced forming properties in otherwise un-bendable metals. The result is a highly competitive technology that can form RHA and HHA at low temperatures without losing the thermo-mechanical or heat-treatment properties.