Severe Plastic Deformation of Copper, Binary Cu-Zn Solid-Solution Alloys, and High-Strength Brass by High-Pressure Torsion

Abstract

Severely-deformed high-strength brasses were investigated by leveraging high-pressure torsion (HPT) processing in order to obtain more enhanced mechanical properties of copper alloys. Pure copper, binary Cu-Zn solid-solution alloys and high-strength brasses including aluminum and manganese additions were selected for experiments. For comparison of these materials, zinc equivalent parameter was used. These materials were subjected to the HPT processing, followed by hardness tests and tensile tests. The maximal hardness value of the nanostructured high-strength brass with β phase matrix was reached 420 HV. The HPT processed high-strength brass with β phase matrix showed significant increase in the yield stress and tensile strength with sacrificing ductility. The tensile specimen of the high-strength brass with β phase matrix was fractured before initiation of necking. It was found that utilizing β phase matrix is also beneficial for controlling enhanced strength of high-strength copper alloys for not only casting process but also severe plastic deformation.