Effect of Equal-Channel Angular Pressing Process on Properties of 1050 Al Alloy

Annealed 1050 Al samples with coarse-grained microstructure of 600 mu m were equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) processed using two routes, A and B-C. The samples were processed up to four passes through a die with an internal angle of 90 degrees using both routes. Electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) technique was used to study the developed microstructure after ECAP processing. The cell size distribution, misorientation, and the fraction of high angle boundaries were determined. The microstructure study was conducted on both the extrusion direction and the shear plane. The produced microstructure depends on the used route and number of passes. A study of mechanical behavior was conducted by using tensile and compression specimens from the specimens produced by ECAP in the extrusion direction. Enhanced strength was observed but with anisotropic behavior between tension and compression. The dimple size and distribution on fractured surface of tensile specimens was affected by the ECAP route and number of passes.