Hot deformation behavior and cold workability of Cu–12Mn–13Zn–1Sn–1Al–0.1Si–0.1Ce alloy with white chromaticity

The chromaticity of the Cu–12Mn–13Zn–1Sn–1Al–0.1Si–0.1Ce (wt.%) alloy was tested using a BYK color difference meter and calculated following the CIE 1976LAB standard system. The value of L*, a* and b* was 70.02, 0.6 and 7.2 respectively. The hot deformation behavior was tested on a Gleeble-1500 thermal simulator, at different deforming temperatures with varying strain rates. The stress–strain behavior of the alloy was obtained, the thermal deformation activation energy Q was calculated, the processing maps were established, and the microstructures evolution of the alloy during hot deformation was characterized. With the true strain of 0.7, two unstable zones were found to be located at 600–650 °C with the strain rate of 0.56–10 s−1, and 780–800 °C with the strain rate of 0.56–10 s−1. The cold workability of the alloy and its annealing schedule have also been studied. Eventually, the cold rolling deformation approaches 75%, and the available annealing temperature stays in a wide range.