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Microstructural evolution and microhardness variations in a Cu–36Zn–2Pb alloy processed by high-pressure torsion

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Abstract

A coarse-grained Cu–36Zn–2Pb alloy with an initial grain size of ~54 μm was processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) at room temperature under an applied pressure of 6.0 GPa through 1–10 turns, and the evolution of microstructure and microhardness was investigated. Analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that in HPT processing the β′-phase transforms to an α-phase and a {111} texture is formed. Microscopic examination showed that dislocations were first formed at equivalent strains of not more than ~25 and when the equivalent strain increased to ~40 there was evidence for twins and secondary twinning. Fine grains were formed with an increase in equivalent strain to ~100 and with further straining these refined grains acted as precursors for additional grain refinement. The refined equiaxed grain size was ~250 nm after HPT through an equivalent strain of ~100 and the results show the microhardness reached a saturation value of ~220 Hv.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 11221202 and in part by the European Research Council under ERC Grant Agreement No. 267464-SPDMETALS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Yan Zhang, Ying Chun Wang, Shu Kui Li & Hong Zou

  2. Materials Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Chuan Ting Wang & Terence G. Langdon

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

    Chuan Ting Wang

  4. National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Materials Under Shock and Impact, 100081, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Shu Kui Li

  5. Departments of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-1453, USA

    Terence G. Langdon

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  1. Hong Yan Zhang
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Correspondence to Ying Chun Wang.

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Zhang, H.Y., Wang, C.T., Wang, Y.C. et al. Microstructural evolution and microhardness variations in a Cu–36Zn–2Pb alloy processed by high-pressure torsion. J Mater Sci 50, 1535–1543 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8713-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8713-2

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