Thermal Stability and Mechanical Behaviour of Equal Channel Angular Pressed Structural Steel IS2062

Abstract

The annealing behaviours of the equal channel angular pressed (ECAP) structural steel (hypoeutectoid) were investigated. The sample was processed up to four pass-through routes Bc in 120° angle die at ambient condition. Due to the effect of ECAP process, mechanical properties significantly improved, whereas the ductility drastically decreased in the material. The microstructural and mechanical characterization illustrates that the recovery process occurred at an annealed temperature of 500–525 °C and the recrystallization process occurred when the sample was annealed at 550 °C. When the annealing temperature was 600 °C, the grain growth process occured in the ECAPed sample and the strength, hardness and ductility were almost equivalent to the as-received material. The microstructural analysis was revealed in the TEM micrography. According to the microstructural and mechanical property analysis, the intermediate annealing temperature of 525 °C to 550 °C was suitable for this material to optimize the strength and ductility.