Orientation Correlation during α→β Up-Transformation Induced by Electric Current Pulses in a Cu-Zn Alloy

Abstract

In this work, the orientation of the β variants within a single parent α grain on the α→β up-transformation induced by electric current pulses in a Cu-Zn alloy was investigated. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used to determine the relationship between the α phase and the β variants. By EBSD analysis, it was found that crystallographic variant selection was observed not only across those prior α/α grain boundaries, but also within the α grain interior. Results revealed that the orientation relationship between the α phase and the β associated with nucleation from α phase was close to the Kurdjumov-Sachs (K-S) orientation relationship, which better described the orientation relationship for α nucleation within β grains.

Crystallographic Orientation Relationship between α and β Phases during Non-Equilibrium Heat Treatment of Cu-37 wt. % Zn Alloy

“…Similar results have been reported by other researchers during phase transformation in brasses under different processing routes [8,9]. Zhao et al [8] investigated the type of OR during α→β phase transformation induced by electric current pulses in a brass alloy containing Cu 63.8 wt. % and Zn 36.2 wt.…”

“…Therefore, the type of OR does not depend on the nucleation sites of the disordered β phase, and the α→β phase transformation occurs under the KS relationship. Similar results have been reported by other researchers during phase transformation in brasses under different processing routes [8,9]. Zhao et al [8] investigated the type of OR during α→β phase transformation induced by electric current pulses in a brass alloy containing Cu 63.8 wt.…”

“…Their results showed that the OR was close to the Young-Kurdjumov-Sachs relationship for α formation in β phase. The comparison between the results of this study with the literature [8,9] indicates two main points. First, the OR during α→β phase transformation in brasses does not depend on the processing route.…”