Microstructural Features of Cu-Zn Single Crystals Deformed at Elevated Temperature

Abstract

Copper alloys are characterized by high plasticity and good resistance to corrosion. They are applied in electrical industry, telecommunication, in transport and machine building, particularly in the production of elements for deep drawing. The scope of investigation enclosed production of testing single crystals, determination of their crystallographic orientation, deformation of selected single crystals by compression in a temperature range from 20 °C to 400 °C, applying strain rate from 10-5 s-1 to 10-1 s-1 as well as microstructure observations. Typical plastic strain effects were observed in the microstructures of studied single crystals in the form of parallel and intersecting lines and slip bands with locally intensified density in different areas of cross section of examined specimen and the deflection bands with slightly marked slip lines in the primary system.