The heterogeneity of grain refinement and texture formation in conductive copper powder during pulsed electric current sintering have been investigated by means of microstructural analysis of the particle-contacting zone of the samples sintered with micron-sized powders. The particle-contacting region was indicated to experience a higher level of grain refinement than the particle center due to the inhomogeneous temperature distribution among the particle when pulsed electric current passed through. Meanwhile, two main textures of Cube (1 0 0)[0 0 1] texture and Goss (1 1 0)[0 0 1] texture were directly detected in the sintered Cu samples by a combination of electron backscatter diffraction and X-ray diffraction. Based on the experimental results, a feasible mechanism for the formation of texture during the pulsed electric current sintering has been proposed by considering the applied uniaxial pressure and pulsed electric current as well as the rearrangement of grains. In addition, the effects of heterogeneous grain refinement and texture formation on the tensile properties of the sintered Cu samples were also discussed based on the tensile properties and fractographic. These results would contribute to the basic understanding of the sintering mechanisms in pulsed electric current sintering process. (C) 2018 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.