Microstructure and texture evolution during the drawing of tungsten wires

Tungsten wires develop during their forming process a pronounced fibre texture that causes anisotropic deformation of single grains. The aim of this work is to simulate the crystallographic texture and microstructure evolution that arises during wire drawing using two different texture models. A visco-plastic self-consistent model that allows simulations using a large number of grains is compared with a crystal plasticity finite element model that provides a more detailed insight into the wire’s microstructure. Texture predictions of both models are discussed and quantitatively compared with experimental texture measurements obtained by neutron diffraction. The developed fibre texture causes plane strain deformation of single grains, which induces grain curling. The prediction of grain curling is of importance because it allows studying the residual stresses that trigger splits, at the grain level.