The effects of intermediate and post-annealing phenomena on the mechanical properties and microstructure of constrained groove pressed copper sheet

Commercial purity copper sheets were subjected to a severe plastic deformation technique known as constrained groove pressing (CGP). The effect of pass number, intermediate and post-annealing on the yield strength, hardness and final microstructure of the copper specimens were investigated. The initial pass increases the strength much more than the subsequent passes. Intermediate and post-annealing up to 300 °C cannot change the mechanical properties significantly and even in some cases improve the strength and hardness while reduce the hardness inhomogeneity. Microstructure after post-annealing at elevated temperatures shows abnormal grain growth.