Title: Microstructure and mechanical properties of 2014 Al alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP)

Authors: P. Venkatachalam, B. Ravisankar, S. Kumaran

Addresses: Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli – 620 015, Tamilnadu, India. ' Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli – 620 015, Tamilnadu, India. ' Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli – 620 015, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract: The present work aims to investigate the microstructural evolution and mechanical behaviour of 2014 Al alloy upon equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at ambient temperature. ECAP was carried using a 90° die through route A up to five passes. Microstructural and mechanical properties were compared for three different conditions namely: 1) as received; 2) homogenised at 768 K for 1 hr; 3) homogenised at 768 K for 1 hr + aged at 468 K for 5 hr. The improved strength and hardness of ECAPed 2014 Al homogenised at 768 K for 1 hr + aged at 468 K for 5 hr alloy was due to the precipitation hardening, grain refining and higher dislocation density. It was found that the grain size gradually decreased with number of passes and the average grain size was about 0.252 μm after five ECAP passes. The hardness and tensile strength of 2014 Al alloy remarkably increased up to 165 HV and 468 MPa, respectively. Correlation between tensile strength and hardness for the processing route A was also reported.

Keywords: ECAP; aluminium alloys; precipitation hardening; homogenisation; ageing; microstructure; mechanical properties; equal channel angular pressing; grain refining; dislocation density; tensile strength; hardness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2010.032504

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2010 Vol.5 No.1, pp.88 - 100

Published online: 04 Apr 2010 *

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