Microstructure and mechanical properties of an ITER-grade Cu–Cr–Zr alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing

•An ITER-grade Cu–Cr–Zr alloy was subjected to equal channel angular pressing (ECAP).•Development of macro and micro shear bands were observed in the microstructure.•The mechanical properties were improved after the ECAP process. An ITER-grade Cu–Cr–Zr alloy was subjected to equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 400°C via routes BC and C, i.e. rotated 90° or 180° around the extrusion axis before subsequent passes. The microstructure of ECAP deformed samples showed shear bands confining small recrystallized grains of about ∼0.2–1μm in size. The best mechanical properties were observed for sample ECAP processed via route BC for which the density of shear bands is high and the interaction among them is notable.