During forging, the metal is typically in which state?

• A. Heated solid
• B. Liquid
• C. Gas
• D. Powder

Answer: (A)

During forging, the metal is shaped by plastic deformation while it remains a solid. Even when hot forging is used, the material is heated to a high temperature to increase ductility, but it does not melt. If the metal were liquid, the process would be casting, not forging. Gas and powder forms aren’t the typical states used in traditional forging either; powder metallurgy and other methods involve different steps. So the material must be a heated solid.