Which statement best describes the effect of repeated shaping on metal (work hardening)?

Which statement best describes the effect of repeated shaping on metal (work hardening)?

• A. It becomes stronger and stiffer (work hardening)
• B. It becomes softer
• C. It fractures immediately
• D. It corrodes faster

Answer: (A)

Repeated shaping causes work hardening, where plastic deformation creates many dislocations in the metal’s crystal structure. These dislocations tangle and form barriers that make further movement of other dislocations harder, so the material becomes stronger and stiffer. Hardness increases and ductility decreases as a result. It doesn’t make the metal softer, and it doesn’t inherently cause immediate fracture or faster corrosion from the shaping itself (although excessive deformation can lead to cracking if the material becomes too brittle).