Effects of particle size, volume fraction, orientation and distribution on the high temperature compression and dynamical recrystallization behaviors of particle-containing alloys

The high temperature compression and dynamical recrystallization behaviors of particle containing alloys with special particle distribution were examined as a function of strain rate at the temperature of 800 °C. The results show that, the compression behaviors of particle containing alloys significantly depend on the initial microstructure, grain orientation, size, volume fraction and distribution of particles in the alloy matrix. Flow stress changing in the longitudinal compression is greatly different from that in the transverse compression, and peak yield stress is much higher in the longitudinal compression, which correspond to the theoretical results predicted by the critical shear stress model of regular shaped particles, and demonstrates the possibility to further improve mechanical properties of Cu–Al2O3 alloys by controlling particle shape and distribution. The different flow stress changes and microstructure evolution in the longitudinal and transverse compressions have been better explained by grain rotation model. The nucleation and coarsening mechanisms of dynamical recrystallization grains, based on the microstructure evolution, were also established and analyzed.

► The hot compression behaviors of two Cu–Al2O3 alloys were studied in this work.
► The effect of particle shape and distribution on mechanical properties was studied.
► The differences in longitudinal and transverse compressions were compared.
► The possibility to further improve strengths of Cu–Al2O3 alloys was confirmed.
► The dynamical recrystallization behaviors and mechanisms were studied in the paper.