Recrystallization Texture and Young's Modulus in Cu-3.8%Ni-0.9%Si Alloy Sheets

Age-hardened Cu-Ni-Si alloy strips with various recrystallization textures were analyzed to determine the effect of texture on Young's modulus in a polycrystalline material. The Cube orientation {001}〈100〉, the rolling direction (RD)-rotated Cube orientation {012}〈100〉, the BR orientation {362}〈853〉, the R orientation {231}〈346〉, and the Copper orientation {121}〈111〉 developed in the samples prepared under different rolling and heat-treatment conditions. The average grain size in these samples was about 5 μm. Young's modulus measured by resonance method was dependent on the fractions of the 〈001〉 and 〈111〉 crystal directions in the stress direction. The sample with a strongly developed Cube orientation showed the lowest Young's modulus, which was more than 30 GPa lower than that of the sample with highest Young's modulus in which the R and Copper orientation was developed. This variation corresponded to analytical value by Hill's approximation based on orientation distribution function (ODF). The larger volume fraction of precipitates in Cu-3.8Ni-0.9Si alloys compared to Cu-2.3Ni-0.7Si alloys had a small influence on Young's modulus.