Microstructure response of cryogenically-rolled Cu-30Zn brass to electric-current pulsing

The effect of transient electric-current pulses (ECP) on the evolution of microstructure and texture of cryogenically-rolled Cu-30Zn brass was determined. The pulsing was shown to lead to recrystallization followed by grain growth. The mean grain size in the recrystallized material was 0.5 μm, thus indicating that cryogenic rolling coupled with ECP is suitable for the production of an ultrafine-grain microstructure in Cu-30Zn brass. The differences in the recrystallization texture in pulsed versus statically-annealed conditions suggested a distinct recrystallization mechanism during ECP.