Investigation of the stress-strain state and microstructure transformation of copper busbars in the deformation zone during continuous extrusion

Abstract

The paper describes an extensive study of features peculiar to physical and mechanical processes occurring in metal in the deformation zone during the continuous extrusion of Cu-ETP rectangular busbars 10×60 mm in size. Finite element computer simulation was used to obtain the values of extrusion power parameters. It was noted that moment and force values increase to the point of filling the press chamber free space with metal reaching a maximum of 12.26 kN·m and 1.54 MN, respectively. The stress-strain state analysis of metal in the deformation zone made it possible to obtain distribution fields of accumulated plastic strain, strain rate intensity and average stresses, and to build the graph of metal temperature variation over time during extrusion. Maximum levels of accumulated plastic strain and compressive stresses are observed in the contact zone of the workpiece with the press container abutment. The most intense metal deformation heating also occurs there. The comparison of modeling and microstructural study results indicate that a significant portion of the cast structure grinding work occurs at the entrance to the deformation zone and at the abutment zone subjected to the highest level of compression stresses. Metal deformation during the die passage leads to an oriented crystal structure formed with a grain size of 25–30 μm. Sample hardness measurement results are consistent with the results of structure analysis in the studied areas of the deformation zone. When the workpiece passes through the compression container abutment section, deformation heating occurs, which leads to a decrease in hardness from 93 to 67 HV. After the metal passes through the die, recrystallization processes continue in it leading to a slight increase in grain size and, accordingly, a decrease in hardness from 79 to 74 HV, which continues until the busbar contacts a cooling medium.