Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Al-1080 processed by a combination of equal channel angular pressing and high pressure torsion

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and high pressure torsion (HPT) are the most promising severe plastic deformation (SPD) methods. Both methods impose very high strains, leading to extreme work hardening and microstructural refinement. In this paper, billets of Al-1080 were successfully processed by ECAP conducted for up to 10 passes, HPT at an applied pressure of 8 GPa for 5 revolutions, and a combination of ECAP and HPT (ECAP + HPT) at room temperature. The effects of the different SPD processes (ECAP, HPT, and ECAP + HPT) on the evolution of the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-1080 were investigated. The HPT and ECAP + HPT processes were observed to produce finer grain sizes with greater fractions of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) than the ECAP alone. Although the grain sizes after HPT and ECAP + HPT were similar, the ECAP + HPT sample had more dislocations than the HPT sample. HPT after ECAP enhanced the mechanical properties (hardness, tensile strength, and ductility) of the ECAP-processed Al-1080, showing larger dimple size in the tensile fracture surfaces.