Processing map and microstructure evaluation of AA6061/Al2O3 nanocomposite at different temperatures

Hot compression behavior of Al6061/Al2O3 nanocomposite was investigated in the temperature range of 350-500 °C and the strain rate range of 0.0005-0.5 s−1, in order to determine the optimum conditions for the hot workability of nanocomposite. The activation energy of 285 kJ/mol for the hot compression test is obtained by using hyperbolic sine function. By means of dynamic material model (DMM) and the corresponding processing map, safe zone for the hot workability of AA6061/Al2O3 is recognized at temperature of 450 °C and strain rate of 0.0005 s−1 and at temperature of 500 °C and the strain rate range of 0.0005-0.5 s−1, with the maximum power dissipation efficiency of 38%. Elongated and kinked grains are observed at 400 °C and strain rate of 0.5 s−1 due to the severe deformation.