Synthesis of ultra high strength Al–Mg–Si alloy sheets by differential speed rolling

The ultrafine-grained Al–Mg–Si alloy sheets, which were fabricated by severe plastic deformation (SPD) using a high-speed-ratio differential speed rolling (HRDSR) and subsequent low temperature aging, exhibited an ultra high strength (yield stress: 455 MPa, ultimate tensile strength: 489 MPa). The strengthening effect was impressive compared with the results obtained by using other SPD techniques. The achievement could be attributed to formation of very fine grains due to significantly increased dislocation density in solute supersaturated matrix, high Hall-Petch constant and particle strengthening gained by formation nano-scale precipitates during the low temperature aging after the HRDSR process.