Formability behavior of brass alloy sheet: the role of twins in microstructure

Quantitative understanding of the process and formability parameters involved in grain size and the formation of annealing twins after plastic straining is important in the control of the manufacturing process. There is a synergistic effect of strain and temperature on the density of annealing twins. Formability of brass alloy sheets was studied after annealing of 65% cold worked (CW) samples at different temperatures (300–600°C). Tensile, deep drawing and Erichsen tests were carried out at room temperature to evaluate formability of alloy. Effect of annealing temperature on density, distribution and size of twins is investigated. It was shown that annealing of brass alloy resulting in formation of annealing twins which at higher annealing temperature were reduced by increasing grain size. Best deep drawability would be achieved by annealing at moderate temperature 400–450°C which microstructure consists of fine grain and twin bands. Work hardening exponent of samples was calculated based on the tensile test data and correlated with stretch ability of annealed brass sheets. It was found that the sheets annealed at 600°C possess best ductility and high average n-value.