Microstructural evolution in copper processed by severe plastic deformation

The mechanisms of microstructural evolution in copper subjected to equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) have been investigated after successive passes. The first few passes are the most efficient in grain refinement while the microstructure becomes gradually more equiaxed as the number of passes increases. The texture evolution is discussed based on electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) results. These experimental results are interpreted in terms of a preliminary model with four successive stages: homogeneous dislocation distribution; elongated sub-cell formation; elongated subgrain formation; break-up of subgrains into equiaxed units; sharpening of grain boundaries and final equiaxed ultrafine structure.