Texture Evolution and Strengthening Behavior of Single Crystal Copper During Equal Channel Angular Pressing

ECAP was adopted in this study to reinforce the single crystal copper by route A, Bc and C, and the effect of different routes was studied. The texture of single crystal copper during ECAP with a die channel angle Phi=120 degrees and psi=37 degrees was investigated by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). At the same time, the elongation and strength of the material were tested. The results show that after 5 passes, the tensile strength and elongation of route A, Bc and C are 405 MPa and 30%, 395 MPa and 26.7%, and 385 MPa and 27.9%, respectively. After 6 passes, the textures, which are formed using the route A to complete the extrusion, are translated from the initial {111}<112> texture to {112}<110> and weaker {110}<112> textures. The texture of route Bc is {001}<110>, while the texture of route C is dispersed and the coexistence of many kinds of textures appears. Meanwhile, the conductivity of the materials decreases little. It can be seen that ECAP can significantly reinforce the material without obviously decreasing the conductivity. Different extrusion routes can remarkably influence the properties of the material.