Abstract: The influence of high-density palsing current on the work-hardening behavior of H0Cr17Ni6Mn3 and 1Cr18Ni9 stainless steels in wire-drawing deformation processes has been studied. It was found that the drawing stress and the work-hardening rate of wires were significantly reduced by applying current pulses in drawing process. The work-hardening behavior of the multi-courses drawing deformation can be well described by Hollomon formula σ = kεn. With the application of current pulses in drawing deformation, the work-hardening exponents of H0Cr17Ni6Mn3 steel wires and 1Cr18Ni9 stainless steel wires were reduced by 33% and 45%, respectively, and their work-hardening coefficients were reduced by 41% and 47%, respectively. It was also found that the work-hardening coefficient of wires was reduced with the increment of the frequency of current pulses, while the work-hardening exponents of both steels were insensitive to the pulsing frequency.

Key words: electroplasticity, work-hardening, austenite stainless steel wire