Texture Evolution in Pure Copper Processed by Equal Channel Angular Extrusion with Extended Processing Routes

An experimental characterization of texture evolution during equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) of pure copper was conducted up to 8 passes considering an extended range of processing routes. These routes are featured by 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, and 180 degrees rotation about the billet longitudinal axis after each pass, and were designated as R0, R45, R90, R135, and RI 80, respectively. They were implemented using new die designs with the cross-section of the die channels as a 24-sided regular convex polygon and with die angle (3) of 90 degrees and 120 degrees, respectively. X-ray diffraction measurements show that for both die sets, the textures developed via the different routes all show orientation concentrations along fibers with the {111} planes parallel to the macroscopic simple shear plane and < 110 > directions parallel to the macroscopic simple shear direction, yet the locations and orientation densities of the main texture components vary significantly with the pass number and the processing route. After 4 to 8 passes, the texture is found to be the weakest via route RI 80 for both die sets, and strongest via R0 or R45. For a given route and pass number, the texture developed with Phi = 120 degrees is generally weaker than its counterpart with Phi = 90 degrees. These results thus confirm the general tendencies of texture development in face-centered cubic metals with {111}< 110 > slip as the dominant deformation mechanisms, albeit in a wide range of processing route or deformation history.