Simulation of the Texture Evolution of Zinc Deformed by Equal-Channell Angular Pressing

Abstract

Modeling the plastic deformation of metallic materials is of prime interest owing to the potential prediction of the mechanical response and microstructural evolution during manufacturing processes. Microstructure optimization to improve the properties of zinc alloys comprises a great effort nowadays, given the interest in producing resorbable biomedical implements, such as stents. The severe plastic deformation process known as equiangular channel extrusion (ECAP) has been applied to various alloys to achieve ultrafine grain microstructures and improve their strength. The texture evolution during such processing can give diverse results depending on the crystalline structure of the material and the route used. In this work, the simulation of the texture evolution of pure zinc during two ECAP routes is addressed. The viscoplastic self-consistent model is used, starting from a calibration of the microplasticity mechanisms by means of uniaxial tests of the bars used as raw material for the ECAP processing. Simulation results are discussed in terms of the active micromechanical mechanisms and the potential occurrence of dynamic recrystallization.