Microstructure and texture of cold-rolled Cu-10Zn brass

Abstract

Optical, X-ray, and electron metallography have been used to examine the substructures and textures developed in 90–10 brass after rolling reductions from 18 to 96%. The substructures formed in this alloy, which has an intermediate value of stacking fault energy, have been found to be orientation dependent. In some regions the substructures are typical of the low stacking fault energy alloy 70–30 brass and consist of thin deformation twins and shear bands. In other regions the substructures are typical of pure copper, which has a higher stacking fault energy, and consist of micro bands and shear bands. In such regions twinning is not an operating deformation mode. The orientations associated with each type of behaviour have been determined. In a third type of region associated with the orientation {110}<001> no recognizable substructure is detected. A simple explanation of the texture transition in fcc metals and alloys is given which is fully consistent with both the textural and microstructural properties of these materials.