Microstructure and mechanical properties of an ITER-grade Cu-Cr-Zr alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing

An ITER-grade Cu-Cr-Zr alloy was subjected to equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 400 degrees C via routes B-C and C, i.e. rotated 90 or 180 around the extrusion axis before subsequent passes. The microstructure of ECAP deformed samples showed shear bands confining small recrystallized grains of about similar to 0.2-1 mu m in size. The best mechanical properties were observed for sample ECAP processed via route Bc for which the density of shear bands is high and the interaction among them is notable. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.