Influence of Strain Rates during Severe Plastic Strain Processes on Microstructural and Mechanical Evolution in Pure Zinc

The study presents an analysis of the influence of the plastic strain rate on the mechanical and structural properties of pure zinc. Thanks to the use of unconventional methods of plastic processing, the process of the equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and the process of hydrostatic extrusion (HE), the tests were performed in a wide range of plastic strain rates, between 0.04 s(−1) and 170 s(−1). Plastic strain rate changes were carried out in the course of the significant plastic strain processes, and not on previously deformed samples. All tests were carried out at a constant value of plastic strain rate, ε ~ 2. A strong influence of the plastic strain rate on changes in the microstructure in zinc was observed during the tests. For the rates in the range of 0.04 s(−1) to 0.53 s(−1) its bimodal nature was observed, and in the range of 7 s(−1) to 170 s(−1) high homogeneity and evenness of grains related to the processes of continuous dynamic recrystallization was noticed. The effect of the strong homogenization of the microstructure was the increase in mechanical properties, yield point and tensile strength to the maximum values of UTS = 194 MPa, YS = 145 MPa at a strain rate of 170 s(−1). Compared to the material with a bimodal microstructure, an over seven-fold increase in the elongation value was observed.