The effect of severe plastic deformation introduced by the bundling-and-drawing process and the subsequent annealing in vacuum at 950°C for 1 hour on the microtexture of Nb-30%Cu (in vol%) nanostructured composite has been investigated. The microstructural characterization was carried out using light optical microscopy (LOM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The microstructure of the Cu matrix was completely recrystallized, displaying a gamma-fiber texture after annealing. A weak alpha-fiber texture arises in the Nb filaments after the employed thermomechanical process. Results showed that in several areas of the multifilamentary niobium, a partial recrystallization developed, indicating microstructural competition.
Nb-Cu composite; severe plastic deformation; recrystallization; texture; EBSD
