Effect of Grain Boundary Resistivity on Solid State Phase Transformation Induced by Electric Current Pulse in a Cold-Rolled Cu–Zn Alloy

Abstract

To clear the effect of grain boundary resistivity on solid state phase transformation, an electrical current pulse (ECP) was applied to a 40% cold-rolled CuZn alloy, and the angle between the exerted current direction (CD) and rolling direction (RD) varied from 0 to 90°. Results showed that with the change of angle, the average grain sizes of ECP treated samples were varied. Through the thermodynamic analysis, it was known that the different diffusion activation energy induced by different grain boundary resistivity was attributed to the evolution of microstructure.

Achieving Excellent Properties of Cu-Ni-Si Copper Alloy by Cold Rolling and Electropulsing Aging

“…11,12 Wang observed that the average grain sizes of Cu-Zn alloys varied with the change of angle between current direction and rolling direction, because the resistivity of different grain boundaries gave rise to different diffusion activation energy. 13 Jiang revealed that electropulsing dramatically enhanced the dissolution rate of b-Mg 17 Al 12 precipitates in AZ91 magnesium alloy. 14 Huang found that electropulsing significantly reduced the a fi b phase transformation temperature in Ti-6Al-4 V alloy and accelerated phase transformation rate because the energy barriers of both nucleation and growth of the new b phase were reduced.…”