High efficient production of slim long metal fibers using bifurcating chip cutting

Metal fiber has wide applications in industrial fields due to its unique advantages. Higher and higher performances of metal fiber are being demanded. This paper proposes a new method of manufacturing long metal fibers-the bifurcating chip cutting method. In this method, several long metal fibers with the equivalent diameter less than 100 mu m, or even less than 50 mu m and with a rough surface, high tensile strength, fairly good tenacity can be produced simultaneously. This paper presents the mechanism of bifurcating chip cutting. In addition, the main technical parameters which affect the characteristics of the slim long metal fibers are discussed and the proper process parameters to achieve good performances of the slim metal fibers are obtained. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.