RECRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS IN COPPER - COMPARISON BETWEEN TECHNIQUES

Six different experimental techniques (electron backscattering (Kikuchi) patterns, calorimetry, micro- and macrohardness, orientation contrast scanning electron microscopy, and neutron diffraction) have been used to determine the volume fraction of recrystallized material X(t) in a series of partly recrystallized copper samples. Before recrystallization, the copper samples were cold-rolled to 92 pct reduction in thickness. The results obtained with the different experimental techniques are compared, and the applicability and accuracy of the six techniques are considered. While five of the techniques reveal the same kinetics, although with different degrees of accuracy, the texture measurements by neutron diffraction seem to indicate a faster recrystallization process. Finally, the recrystallization kinetics and stored energy aspects of the copper material are discussed with respect to the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov model.