Hot Deformation Behavior and Simulation of Hot-Rolled Damage Process for Fine-Grained Pure Tungsten at Elevated Temperatures

Abstract

Fine-grained pure tungsten fabricated by a sol drying reduction low-temperature sintering method and hot isothermal compression tests were performed by using the Gleeble 3800 thermo mechanical simulator at deformation temperatures from 1273 K to 1473 K and strain rates from 0.001 s−1 to 1 s−1. In addition, the constitutive equation was established by least square method combined with the Zerilli–Armstrong model, and the hot deformation behavior was discussed. Moreover, based on constitutive equation, the influence of the rolling process and its parameters on temperature, strain, density and rolling force in the hot rolling process was investigated at elevated temperature by the finite element model (FEM). Furthermore, the form of rolling damage and its formation mechanism were analyzed. Results showed the grains of pure tungsten are dense, irregular polyhedral spherical and very fine, and the average grain size is about 5.22 μm. At a high strain rate, the flow stress increases rapidly with the increase in strain, while the stress–strain curve shows a flattening trend in the tested strain rate range with increasing temperature, and no flow stress peak exists, showing obvious dynamic recovery characteristics. Furthermore, the FEM simulation showed that compared with the rolling temperature, the reduction has a greater influence on the temperature, stress–strain field and its distribution. There are three kinds of damage in the hot rolling process: transverse cracks, longitudinal cracks and side cracks, which are attributed to the competition between additional stress caused by uneven deformation and material strength. Moreover, the control method of hot rolling defects had been preliminarily proposed. These results should be of relevance for the optimum design of the hot rolling process of pure tungsten.