Grain refinement and crack prevention in constrained groove pressing of two-phase Cu–Zn alloys

The applicability of constrained groove pressing for grain refinement and improvements in mechanical properties of two-phase Cu–Zn alloys is demonstrated. It is shown that the grain size and volume fraction of the β′ phase in the Cu–Zn alloy should be kept small through proper heat treatment, and a die design with a wider groove can reduce stresses at the most severely loaded region of the workpiece, all of which allow higher numbers of pressings to attain better grain refinement and improved properties.