Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of EUROFER'97 processed by equal channel angular pressing

EUROFER'97 was processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 823 K for a total of 4 or 8 passes, using a die angle of 105 degrees, and its microstructure and tensile behavior in temperature range 568-873 K investigated. A single ECAP pass developed a deformation texture {1 1 0} < 0 1 1 > that was practically stable during subsequent ECAP passes. The materials processed by 1 or 2 passes exhibited a fine microstructure of recovered subgrains and tensile behavior very similar to that for the tempered material in the as-received condition. The materials processed using 4 or 8 passes exhibited nearly equiaxial submicron grained structures with a high density of high-angle grain boundaries. These materials became softer than the as-received material at a testing temperature of similar to 823 K. EUROFER ECAP processed under the present conditions exhibited hardening ratio somewhat higher than that of the as-received material. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.