Microstructural evolution and its effect on mechanical properties of commercially pure aluminum deformed by ECAE (Equal Channel Angular Extrusion) via routes A and C

Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) can effectively introduce large uniform plastic strain to bulk materials to produce ultrafine-grained (UFG) materials. The present study attempts to apply the ECAE process to commercially pure aluminum (1050 Al alloy). ECAE with an intersecting angle of 90° is processed at room temperature via routes A and C. The microstructural development of the deformed material was investigated using SEM-EBSD measurements, and shear tests were conducted on the deformed material for mechanical testing.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ECAE with an intersecting angle of 90° is processed via routes A and C. ▶ Effect of ECAE processing routes on the microstructural evolution was investigated. ▶ Shear tests were conducted on the ECAE-processed material for mechanical testing. ▶ The effect of grain size and grain shape on shear yield strength was analyzed. ▶ Hall–Petch relationship of the ECAE-processed 1050 Al alloy was obtained.