The Influence of Cyclic Torsion with Application of Current Pulses on the Formability of CuZn30 Brass

This article presents a study on symmetric cyclic torsion with the application of electric pulses and their effect on the formability of α-brass CuZn30 at room temperature. Preliminary tests were carried out using a conventional monotonic torsion test. The obtained results served as a reference for the subsequently conducted symmetric cyclic torsion tests. Then, under analogical deformation conditions, tests were conducted with the application of electric pulses featuring various parameters: different pulse durations and different periods, i.e., intervals between successive pulses. Microstructural studies of the deformed material were conducted, including examinations using a microscope equipped with an electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) detector. Based on the results, it was found that the application of electric pulses during cyclic torsion tests consistently leads to a reduction in stress compared to cyclic torsion tests conducted at ambient temperature without current flow. In most cases, it also results in an increase in strain compared to tests without the application of electric pulses. The electroplastometric torsion tests carried out in this study within the bulk forming process are the first of their kind to combine cyclic torsion with electrically assisted forming (EAF). The proposed combination may lead to the development of new deformation methods in real manufacturing processes.