Evaluating the textural and mechanical properties of an Mg-Dy alloy processed by high-pressure torsion,

The evolution of microstructure, texture, and mechanical properties of an Mg–1.43Nd (wt%) alloy is investigated after processing by high‐pressure torsion at room temperature through five turns and isochronal annealing for 1 h at 150, 250, 350, and 450 °C using electron backscatter diffraction and Vickers microhardness. The alloy exhibits a good thermal stability up to annealing at 250 °C, with mean grain size of ≈0.65 μm. The microhardness shows an initial hardening after annealing at 150 °C and then a subsequent softening. The deformation texture, a basal texture shifted 60° away from the shear direction (SD), is retained during annealing up to 250 °C. In contrast, a basal texture with symmetrical splitting toward SD is developed after annealing at 350 °C. The precipitation sequence and their pinning effects are responsible for the age‐hardening, stabilization of grain size, and the texture modification. The kinetics of grain growth in the Mg–1.43Nd alloy follows two stages depending on the temperature annealing range, with an activation energy of ≈26 kJ mol−1 in the low temperature range of 150–250 °C and ≈147 kJ mol−1 in the high temperature range of 250–450 °C.

A Fe-48wt%Ni alloy was processed by severe plastic deformation using equal channel angular pressing process. A stacking of 9 sheets was introduced and pressed up to two passes into die with an inner angles of Φ=90º and outer arc of curvature ψ= 17° at room temperature following route A. The same material in bulk form was also ECAPed up to one pass. The microstructure and the texture were investigated by means of electron backscattered diffraction and X-ray diffraction, respectively. To evaluate the mechanical response, Vickers microhardness was carried out. The given analyses concern the asreceived sample, the peripheral and the central plates of the pressed stacks and the upper, the middle and the lower parts of the pressed bulk material. The deformation was heterogeneous and variations in texture and microstructure, resulting from different efficiencies in the shearing process, were locally noted. For the stacks samples, the microstructure evolved from equiaxed grains of 9 μm with high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (around 90%) to a heterogeneous fine grain structure with an average grain size of 3 m after two passes. On the contrary, for the bulk sample, the evolution was 2 to a banded structure after one pass. Results of mechanical property show that microhardness increased significantly from 147 Hv before deformation to mean values of 244 (after one pass) and 235 Hv (after two passes) for the bulk and stacked samples, respectively. The Hall-Petch effect and dislocation density were evaluated as the most responsible in material strengthening.

AA6060 aluminum alloy was subjected to severe plastic deformation (SPD) through Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) up to 8 passes via route BC. ECAPed samples isochronally annealed for 1 hour at a temperature range of 150-450 °C. The microstructure and texture of the studied material were evaluated by Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), and the microhardness was characterized by Vickers microhardness testing. It was found that shearing texture is typically enhanced after ECAP processing. Grain size and grain growth kinetics were also studied. ECAP led to a substantial rise in hardness, with stability following 4 passes. Microstructures and material properties were relatively stable up to annealing temperatures of 150 °C. Some sub-micrometer grains were kept 2 in the 8 passes sample to annealing temperatures of 300 °C. Annealing at elevated temperature resulted in a reduction in hardness leading to a rise in grain size and a decrease in dislocation density. After annealing temperature up to 450 °C, the texture index reveals a tendency to the texture weakening and randomization. The activation energy required for the grain growth of the AA6060 alloy was exceptionally low above 300 °C.