In metalworking, what does the rolling process achieve?

The rolling process in metalworking primarily refers to the method where metal is passed through rollers to achieve a desired thickness. This technique is widely used to transform materials into sheets or plates, which can be essential for various manufacturing applications. During rolling, the material is elongated and compressed, allowing for the production of uniform sheets that can be used in further processing, such as fabrication and assembly.

While increasing thickness and breaking down alloys can occur in different contexts of metalworking, they are not the key outcomes of the rolling process. Increasing thickness typically refers to processes like forging or casting rather than rolling. Similarly, the rolling process aims to reduce thickness or improve the shape of the metal rather than focus on breaking down alloys. Enhancing brittleness is generally undesirable in metalworking; the goal is often to improve ductility and tensile strength. Thus, forming sheets accurately encapsulates the primary purpose of the rolling process in metalworking.