Mechanical properties of bulk aluminium consolidated from mechanically milled particles by back pressure equal channel angular pressing

Mechanically milled pure aluminium particles were consolidated into bulk material using back pressure equal channel angular pressing (BP-ECAP) at 373 K. Compressive yield strengths of 380 and 422 MPa with ultimate strengths over 500 MPa were obtained after 4 and 8 passes of ECAP, respectively. Further strengthening was observed after heating at 673 and 773 K. The age hardening and thermal stability were attributable to the formation of Al4C3 particles from a solid-state reaction during the isothermal heat treatments.