Evolution of recrystallization texture for Cu-30% Zn alloy sheets with high Young’s modulus in the transverse direction

Abstract

Abstract Miniaturization of electric connecters with higher stability in the coupling force is demanded as components of electric vehicles. Copper alloys are attractive materials from the perspective of electric conductivity. It is considered that Brass orientations {110}<112> has high Young’s modulus along the transverse direction (TD) since the Young’s moduli of copper single crystals show a maximum value at the <111> direction. The authors could successfully develop the near-Brass orientation in TD of the annealed sheets by performing additional warm rolling at a low reduction in thickness for cold rolled Cu-30% Zn alloy (brass) sheets with material cost lower than pure copper. The near-Brass recrystallization texture with a main component {110}<223> showed maximum orientation density after annealing at 723 K when warm rolling was performed at 623 K. In addition, we discussed the mechanism of the recrystallization texture evolution for Cu-30% Zn alloy sheets, which were subjected to the combined rolling consisting of cold and warm rolling using a conventional rolling mill and subsequently annealed at 723 K, in view of annealing twinning in the early stage of recrystallization.