Research on the engineering application of multiple pulses treatment for recrystallization of fine copper wire

The present study first reports engineering application of multiple pulses treatment (MPT) for recrystallizaion of fine copper wire, and compared the effects of MPT with conventional heat treatments on mechanical properties and microstructure evolution. The results indicate the copper wire subjected to the electropulsing features optimal mechanical properties and the MPT consumes the least amount of energy as well. The microstructure after MPT mainly characters fine recrystallized grains with few twins. The recrystallization mechanism of the MPT can be attributed to the coupled actions of the thermal and athermal effects. The athermal effect in MPT can compensate for insufficient dislocations climb resulting from a relatively small thermal effect, which eventually favors complete recrystallization at relatively low temperatures.