The Role of Processing Routes on the Evolution of Microstructure and Texture Heterogeneity during ECAP of Al-Cu Alloy

Abstract

The effect of processing routes during Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) of the Al alloy 2014 with regard to the evolution of microstructure and texture heterogeneity has been studied. The solution treated alloy (768 K for 1 hr) was subjected to ECAP through routes A, BA, BC and C using a die with inter-channel angle 90° upto 5 passes. Texture evolution was studied in the top, middle and bottom of the billets processed through routes A, BA, BC and C. Processing by route A resulted in a stronger texture evolution because of monotonic increase in strain with the number of passes. In route A, texture heterogeneity is more than the routes BC and BA. In routes BC and BA, the texture evolution in outer region near to surface of the billet changes their orientation as the passes increases possibly creating a stronger texture evolution at the top and bottom different from the centre of billet. The heterogeneity in texture evolution is the least less in route C, due to the reversal of shear.