Deformation behavior of Cu-12wt%Al alloy wires with continuous columnar crystals in dieless drawing process

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu-12wt%Al alloy wires which are composed of continuous columnar crystals after dieless drawing forming at drawing speed of 1.0–1.4 mm/s and deformation temperature of 600–900°C were analyzed, and deformation behavior of the alloy during dieless drawing forming was experimentally investigated. The results showed that in the above-mentioned conditions, recrystallization phenomenon was not found during dieless drawing forming. When a drawing speed of 1.0 mm/s was used, the grain boundaries were out of straight gradually with increasing deformation temperature from 600°C to 900°C, and tensile strength of the dieless drawn Cu-12wt%Al alloy wires increased while elongations decreased with increasing deformation temperature. At drawing speed of 1.1–1.2 mm/s and deformation temperature of 600°C, the effect of dieless drawing forming process on the microstructure of the alloy was inconspicuous, and when drawing speed was up to 1.3–1.4 mm/s, the grain boundaries of continuous columnar crystals became zigzag while there was little effect of drawing speed of 1.1–1.4 mm/s on the elongation and tensile strength of the alloy wires.