Deformation characteristics of Cu-30 % Zn alloy subjected to dynamic equal channel angular pressing (DECAP)

Abstract

Abstract In this study, the applicability of dynamic equal channel angular pressing for grain refinement and improvement in the properties of a two-phase Cu-30 %Zn alloy was investigated. Simulation and experiments were performed to study the deformation characteristics. The parameters for the multi-pass extrusion simulation were consistent with those in the experiments. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation. A homogeneous microstructure and grain refinement are readily achieved. The hardness increases rapidly by 170 % compared to the annealed samples, and its distribution is approximately uniform throughout the 2-pass deformation. Microstructural analysis indicates nanotwins of ~5–10 nm width and high-density dislocations.