Effects of Initial Texture on Drawing and Recrystallization Characteristics of Gold Bonding Wire

Microstructure and texture formation behavior of a gold rod and fine wire which were produced by continuous casting process and drawing, respectively were investigated by means of optical micrographs, TEM images and X-ray pole figure. Well-developed unidirectional structure aligned to casting direction was found in 7 mm gold rod. Higher casting speed was found to be favor in developing the directional microstructure. In the sample with unidirectional microstructure developed in partial it is found that dislocation substructure with nano-size appeared to display a characteristic feature, while no dislocation substructure is seen in the sample with complete unidirectional microstructure. Interface stability between solid and liquid may be responsible for this difference in dislocation substructure. fiber component was observed to be well developed over the whole microstructure in unidirectional sample. With decreasing casting speed fiber component became weak. Two texture components consisting of fiber and fiber were seen in as-drawn samples. For the development of fiber texture component initial texture component plays a more significant role than subsequent annealing process. Annealing heat treatment would be effective way to control the formation of fiber component. On the basis of results obtained it is suggested that both the initial texture and final annealing are important in controlling the texture of gold bonding wire.