Development of Nanostructured Armco-Fe by Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE)

The Equal Channel Angular Extrusion or Pressing (ECAE/ECAP) process has been developed over these last years in order to obtain nanostructured materials by means of severe plastic deformation. These applications have been mainly focused on light alloys while its application to iron and steel has not been so common. This is due to the difficulties that their ECAE processing implies, as much higher values for the processing force are required. In this present study, the results achieved when Armco-Fe is processed by ECAE at room temperature are shown. In addition, a comparative study on the variation in the mechanical properties (yield stress, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation at break) is shown when different thermal treatments are employed. Specific combinations are also shown of the thermal treatments which lead to a higher value of elongation and mechanical strength in relation to the starting material. Furthermore, an analysis of the obtained results is made by optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques.