Principles of ECAP–Conform as a continuous process for achieving grain refinement: Application to an aluminum alloy

Equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) combined with the Conform process provides a solution for the continuous production of ultrafine-grained materials. Rods of a commercial Al-6061 alloy were processed by ECAP–Conform at room temperature for up to a total of four passes. Microstructural observations showed significant grain refinement but with elongated grains after four passes with average widths of ∼150 nm and lengths of ∼1.2 μm when viewed on the longitudinal planes. Microhardness measurements after a single pass revealed inhomogeneities both on the cross-sectional planes and along the rod. After processing through four passes there was reasonable homogeneity throughout the rod. Measurements of the shear strengths in two orthogonal directions perpendicular to the extrusion axis showed significant strengthening after ECAP–Conform and there was no evidence for any plastic anisotropy after processing through four passes.