Effect of the initial ECAP passes on crystal texture and residual stresses of 5083 aluminum alloy

Abstract

To produce a highly refined microstructure, several metals or alloys have been processed via equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). In this work, the mechanical and microstructural changes of the 5083 aluminum alloy in H11 condition after processed by two ECAP passes were investigated. An ECAP H13 steel die with an inner angle (α) of 120° and outer curvature (β) of 20° was used. The microstructural changes were associated with the loss of texture symmetry. The morphologies of the Mg2Si and α-Al(Mn,Fe)Si precipitates for the sample at the initial condition were similar to those subjected to two ECAP passes. The peak broadening measured by X-ray diffraction revealed an increment of both grain refinement and microstrain. After the second extrusion pass, the hardness increased by 62% compared with the initial condition. Moreover, the heterogeneous hardness behavior was compatible with a highly localized dislocation density. After two ECAP passes, shear parallel bands were observed to be at nearly 45° to the extrusion direction. The evaluation of first-order residual stress as a function of the depth of the analyzed sample displayed compressive or tensile values, depending on the measured face. With the plastic deformation applied, the first and second-order residual stresses exhibited significant increment. Williamson-Hall plots showed positive slopes, indicating an increment in the microstrain.