Unveiling the self-annealing phenomenon and texture evolution in room-temperature-rolled Cu-Fe-P alloy sheets

The present study addresses the microstructural and texture evolution of Cu-Fe-P alloy sheets rolled at room temperature (RT). Cu-Fe-P specimens were subjected to 20, 40, 60, and 80% reduction ratios (RR) through room-temperature rolling (RTR). Nano-sized Fe2P precipitates were observed in the initial and deformed specimens. Continuous-rolling deformation causes strain hardening, whereas exposing severely deformed specimens to RT causes the self-annealing phenomenon. Deformed specimens to 60 and 80% RRs exhibited strain localizations (SLs) that formed only in Copper-type grains. In this study, a visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) polycrystal model was used to calculate the relative slip activity for major texture orientations. Copper-type grains showed the occurrence of predominant single-slip system which was the primary reason for the formation of SLs. Static recovery (SRV) and static recrystallization (SRX) were the main softening phenomena found in the RTR specimens. Both discontinuous SRX (DSRX) and continuous SRX (CSRX) were observed as the SRX phenomenon in RTR specimens. Major SRX grains were elongated in shape due to the combined effects of a higher orientation gradient (CSRX), to the larger SE differences between the matrix grains (restricted growth), and to a pinning effect by Fe2P particles. The as-received specimen showed weak plane-strain texture components at maxima around the S component ((123)<634>). As the RR increased, the volume fractions of Copper ((112)<111>), Brass ((110)<112>), and S components were likewise increased (except at 60% RR). The highest fraction of plane-strain components was observed for the RTR-80 specimen. The large number of SLs and the higher orientation gradient decreased the intensity of the plane-strain texture in the RTR-60 specimen, whereas a higher fraction of SRX in the RTR-80 specimen enhanced the plane-strain texture components. Time-dependent decay in the hardness values in the RTR specimens were attributed to SRV and SRX.