Accumulative roll bonding of aluminum alloys 2219/5086 laminates: Microstructural evolution and tensile properties

The present study describes the course of microstructure evolution during accumulative roll bonding (ARB) of dissimilar aluminum alloys AA2219 and AA5086. The two alloys were sandwiched as alternate layers and rolled at 300 °C up to 8 passes with 50% height reduction per pass. A strong bonding between successive layers accompanied by substantial grain refinement (∼200–300 nm) is achieved after 8 passes of ARB. The processing schedule has successfully maintained the iso-strain condition up to 6 cycles between the two alloys. Afterwards, the fracture and fragmentation of AA5086 layers dominate the microstructure evolution. Mechanical properties of the 8 pas ARB processed material were evaluated in comparison to the two starting alloy sheets via room temperature tensile tests along the rolling direction. The strength of the 8 pass ARB processed material lies between that of the two starting alloys while the ductility decreases after ARB than that of the two constituent starting alloys. These differences in mechanical behavior have been attributed to the microstructural aspects of the individual layer and the fragmentation process.     

Texture evolution of AA3003 aluminum alloy sheet produced by accumulative roll bonding

The accumulative roll bonding process was carried out on an AA3003 aluminum alloy sheet up to eight cycles. The electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) method was employed to investigate the microtextural development in the ARB processed sheets. The results indicate that with increasing the number of cycles, the overall texture intensity increases even up to the eighth rolling pass and a strong texture develops. The main textural components are the copper and Dillamore components of which the intensities increase with increasing number of cycles. Measurement of microhardness and lamellar spacing of grains in the processed sheets revealed that the presence of second phase particles in this aluminum alloy can promote the occurrence of dynamic recovery during the ARB process.     

Microstructure and texture evolution during incremental sheet forming of AA1050 alloy

In incremental sheet forming higher limiting strain can be achieved compared to the conventional sheet metal forming process, which results in increased formability. The higher level of strain may be accompanied by non-uniform thinning. Thus, the different sections in a component may undergo different levels of deformation. In the present work a truncated cone of AA1050 H14 alloy was formed using the incremental sheetmetal forming (ISF) technique. The deformation mechanism during ISF was studied by investigating the microstructural and texture evolution in the truncated cone along the thickness of the cone wall. High resolution electron backscatter diffraction was performed at different sections of the formed truncated cone. The results show the formation of subgrains in different sections of the cone. At higher strains, grains become thin and elongated which results in grain fragmentation and formation of small grains. These small grains undergo complete recovery process and new grain boundaries (low and high angle) are formed within the thin elongated grains. Further, the evolution of shear texture shows the evidence of shear mode of deformation during incremental sheet forming. Thus, the presence of through thickness shear could be used for understanding the higher forming limit in the ISF process.

     

Effect of strain-modified particles on the formation of fined grains and the properties of AA7050 alloy

With a new two-pass deformation, a fine-grained AA7050 alloy was obtained owing to small particles which can affect the grain refinement. The banded structures were produced in the elongated grain interiors after the 1st-pass deformation at 300 °C. And deformation bands containing dislocation arrays and small spherical particles were obtained. A few new fined grains appeared along the elongated grain boundaries. After the 2nd-pass deformation at 430 °C, isolated chains of new fine grains were developed in the elongated grain interiors. The boundary glide and the increase of grain boundary misorientation due to cumulative strain could refine the elongated grains. The pinning effect of the particles accelerated the formation of deformation bands. The increase of deformation temperature promoted the rapid evolution of grain refinement during the deformation. The strength of the fine-grained AA7050 alloy was enhanced while the ductility was decreased.     

Formation of a random texture and ultrafine grains in AA 3003 aluminium alloy during the repeated shear deformation introduced by continuous confined strip shearing

Abstract

To investigate the microstructural development and corresponding texture evolution during repeated shear deformation, specimens of AA 3003 Aluminium alloy were deformed by continuous confined strip shearing based on equal channel angular pressing. Strip specimens were deformed by the shear forming process during up to eight passes, equivalent to effective strains of ~4.8. Texture evolution in the AA 3003 strips during the shear deforming process was studied by comparing the experimentally measured textures with simulated ones. Electron backscattered diffraction was employed to investigate detailed changes in microtextures and microstructures during repeated shear deformation. Softening associated with deformation is believed to be responsible for the formation of ultrafine grains and the random texture resulting from repeated shear deformation.     

Evolution of microstructures and mechanical properties in similar and dissimilar friction stir welding of AA5086 and AA6061

In this work, thermo-mechanical behavior and microstructural evolution in similar and dissimilar friction stir welding of AA6061-T6 and AA5086-O have been investigated. Firstly, the thermo-mechanical behaviors of materials during similar and dissimilar FSW operations have been predicted using three-dimensional finite element software, ABAQUS, then, the mechanical properties and the developed microstructures within the welded samples have been studied with the aid of experimental observations and model predictions. It is found that different strengthening mechanisms in AA5086 and AA6061 result in complex behaviors in hardness of the welded cross section where the hardness variation in similar AA5086-O joints mainly depends on recrystallization and generation of fine grains in weld nugget, however, the hardness variations in the weld zone of AA6061/AA6061 and AA6061/AA5086 joints are affected by subsequent aging phenomenon. Also, both experimental and predicted data illustrate that the peak temperature in FSW of AA6061/AA6061 is the highest compared to the other joints employing the same welding parameters.     

纯铜深度塑性变形的织构组织均匀性研究

为了获得均匀的深度塑性变形纯铜织构组织,分别采用异步叠轧法和同步叠轧法制备纯铜试样.用X射线衍射极图法测量织构沿样品板厚方向的分布.结果表明,异步叠轧试样近表层的变形织构是{100}<011>剪切织构,同步叠轧试样的变形织构是{211}<111>铜织构,异步叠轧和同步叠轧试样里面各层的变形织构都是铜织构,并且强度非常接近,变形织构沿中心层呈对称分布;当真应变大于4.2时,增加应变对变形织构的组分和强度几乎没有影响;在叠轧中相邻2层的界面限制了晶粒的变形范围,使变形织构组织更均匀.     

Nano grained AZ31 alloy achieved by equal channel angular rolling process

Equal channel angular rolling (ECAR) is a severe plastic deformation process which is carried out on large, thin sheets. The grain size could be significantly decreased by this process. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of grain refinement of AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet by this process to nanometer. The effect of the number of ECAR passes on texture evolution of AZ31 magnesium alloy was investigated. ECAR temperature was controlled to maximize the grain refinement efficiency along with preventing cracking. The initial microstructure of as-received AZ31 sheet showed an average grain size of about 21 μm. The amount of grain refinement increased with increasing the pass number. After 10 passes of the process, significant grain refinement occurred and the field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) micrographs showed that the size of grains were decreased significantly to about 14-70 nm. These grains were formed at the grain boundaries and inside some of the previous larger micrometer grains. Observation of optical microstructures and X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) showed the formation of twins after ECAR process. Micro-hardness of material was studied at room temperature. There was a continuous enhancement of hardness by increasing the pass number of ECAR process. At the 8th pass, hardness values increased by 53%. At final passes hardness reduced slightly, which was attributed to saturation of strain in high number of passes.     

Influence of pre-compression on the ductility of AA6xxx aluminium alloys

Reversed loading experiments were conducted to study the influence of pre-compression on the ductility of three aluminium alloys. Diabolo-shaped specimens were machined from extruded profiles along the transverse direction, and heat treated to peak strength (T6 temper). The specimens were subjected to five different levels of pre-compression (0, 10, 20, 30, 40%), i.e., the specimens were first compressed to a prescribed strain and then pulled to fracture in tension. Using a laser-based measuring system, the minimum diameter in the extrusion direction and thickness direction were continuously measured during the tests until fracture. The three aluminium alloys AA6060, AA6082.25 and AA6082.50 had different grain structure and texture. The AA6060 and AA6082.50 alloys had recrystallized grain structure with equi-axed grains and large elongated grains, respectively. The AA6082.25 alloy had a non-recrystallized, fibrous grain structure. It was found that pre-compression has a marked influence on the ductility of the aluminium alloys, which depends on the microstructure and strength of the alloy. Using the compressed configuration as the reference configuration, the relative failure strain could be calculated. For the AA6060 alloy, the relative failure strain increased for increasing pre-compression, and was approximately doubled for 40% pre-compression compared to pure tension. For the AA6082.25 alloy, a slight increase in the relative failure strain was observed for increasing pre-compression, while for the AA6082.50 alloy the relative failure strain was low and approximately constant for different levels of pre-compression.     

镍-不锈钢复合板轧制过程中界面的结合机制

采用轧制终止取样法对镍-不锈钢热轧复合板轧制过程中的界面成分、界面组织以及界面处的氧化物进行了表征,研究了轧制过程中界面的结合机制并根据热力学原理解释了高温下选择性内氧化的机理.将复合板坯加热至1200℃,保温120 min后进行轧制,分别在轧制3、5、7道次后中断轧制快速水冷,随后进行取样观察.结果 表明,轧制3道次...     

EBSD Characterization of the Laser Remelted Surface Layers in a Commercially Pure Mg

Laser surface melting has been applied on a commercially pure Mg. The microstructure and texture modifications encountered in the surface layers were carefully investigated by using electron backscattered diffraction （EBSD） technique. Due to the melting followed by rapid solidification and cooling, a layer having graded microstructures and texture formed. At the bottom of the melted layer, the solidified Mg grains have an elongated shape with a 〈0001 〉 basal fibre texture nearly parallel to sample normal direction, while equiaxed grains were observed in the top melted layer having a much weaker basal fibre texture. Solidification twinning and deformation twinning were found in the vicinity of the melt/substrate interface where the Mg grains grow larger due to the heating. In addition, no epitaxial type grain growth was observed at the melt/substrate interface.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of commercial purity titanium severely deformed by ARB process

Commercial purity titanium was deformed by accumulative roll-bonding (ARB) process up to 8 cycles (equivalent strain of 6.4) at ambient temperature. This is the first study on ultra-high straining of h.c.p. metals by the ARB process. The microstructure of the ARB-processed specimens showed two kinds of characteristic ultrafine microstructures. One was the lamellar boundary structure elongated along RD, which has been also reported in the ARB-processed cubic metals. The lamellar boundary spacing decreased with increasing ARB strain and reached about 80 nm after 5 ARB cycles. The other microstructure was the equiaxed grains having mean grain size of 80–100 nm. Such a fine and equiaxed grain structure has not yet been reported in the as-ARB-processed materials before. The fraction of the equiaxed grains increased as the ARB process proceeded, and 90% of the specimen was filled with the equiaxed grains after 8 ARB cycles. As the number of the ARB process increased, the tensile strength increased and the total elongation decreased gradually. After 6 ARB cycles, the specimen exhibited almost the same mechanical properties as that of commercial Ti-6Al-4V alloy.     

Effect of layered microstructure and its evolution on superplastic behaviour of AA 8090 Al–Li alloy

Abstract

Superplastic forming grade sheets of AA 8090 Al–Li alloy were observed to contain layers of different microstructure and microtexture across the thickness cross-section. Superplastic behaviour and its relationship to the concurrent microstructural and microtextural evolution of this sheet were studied at 803 K by tensile testing of specimens taken from the full thickness and the near surface and midthickness layers. Initially, the surface layers contained nearly equiaxed and relatively coarse grains with a strong S {123}〈634〉 type texture, whereas the midthickness section had elongated fine grains and a dominant Bs {011}〈211〉 texture. The stress–strain rate (σ–ε) curves exhibited minimum flow stress for the full thickness material. Varying levels of grain growth and texture weakening occurred in the above two layers, the extent of which depended on whether the layers were in separated form or as coexistents in the full thickness material. The maximum values of strain rate sensitivity index for the full thickness, surface, and centre materials were 0.82, 0.64, and 0.56, respectively. The corresponding ductility values were 475, 420, and 286% at ε=1×10^-3 s^-1.     

A crystal plasticity finite element analysis of cross-grain deformation heterogeneity in equal channel angular extrusion and its implications for texture evolution

A crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) method was applied to evaluate cross-grain deformation heterogeneity and its implication on texture evolution during equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) of pure copper. The simulations were conducted for one to four passes of ECAE via route C, assuming simple shear in each pass at the macroscopic level. Analyses of the stress and strain distributions reveal considerable deformation heterogeneities across individual grains in the polycrystal. The grain interactions are found to be remarkable after even-numbered passes and they partly contribute to the retained shear textures. The CPFE model captures very well the experimental textures after odd-numbered passes; however, it is not able to model the measured textures subsequent to even-numbered passes, and the results are only slightly improved as compared to a visco-plasticity self-consistent polycrystal model. These results suggest that dedicated considerations of deformation heterogeneities at both the macro- and meso-levels are necessary in modeling texture evolution during severe plastic deformation.     

Texture and microstructure evolution in ultrafine-grained AZ31 processed by EX-ECAP

Extruded AZ31 alloy was processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) up to 12 passes at 180 °C following route B_c, i.e. rotating the sample 90° between individual passes. Microstructure evolution was investigated using EBSD and TEM, as a function of strain imposed by ECAP. The first ECAP pass resulted in the formation of a new texture component which relates to the bimodal grain structure observed in this specimen. The grains larger than 10 μm show the orientation changes corresponding to the ECAP shear, which is characterised by the rotation of the basal poles by approximately 40° from the initial orientation. The fine grains with the average size of 1 μm maintain the initial orientation. The character of the bimodal grain structure and the distinct texture components between large and small grains remained unchanged up to 4 ECAP passes. Further ECAP pressing to 8 and 12 passes leads to a grain refinement through the whole sample volume and the orientation changes of all grains corresponding to the ECAP shear.     

Crystal plasticity finite element simulations of pure bending of aluminium alloy AA7108

The crystal plasticity finite element method (CP-FEM) is used to investigate the influence of microstructure on the bending behaviour of the heat treatable aluminium alloy AA7108. The study comprises two materials obtained from the AA7108 aluminium alloy by different thermo-mechanical treatments. The first one is an as-cast and homogenized material consisting of large grains with random texture, while the second one is a rolled and recrystallized material having refined grains with weak deformation texture. The behaviour of the two materials in plane-strain bending is investigated numerically and compared qualitatively to existing experimental data. The crystallographic texture and grain morphology of the materials are explicitly represented in the finite element models. The numerical results display a strong effect of the grain morphology on the bending behaviour, the surface waviness and the development of shear bands. These results are consistent with the experimental observations. The simulations further indicate that crystallographic texture affects the bending behaviour of the rolled and recrystallized material.     

Evolution of microstructure and texture in an ultrafine-grained Al6082 alloy during severe plastic deformation

The evolution of microstructure and texture in Al6082 precipitation-hardened alloy during equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) was studied. It was found that although the dislocation density and the subgrain size saturated after 1 pass, the size of grains bounded by high angle boundaries reached its minimum value only after 4 passes. Furthermore, the grain orientation distribution changes between 4 and 8 passes, indicating the development of grain boundary structure even after the saturation of the parameters of the microstructure. As a result of this evolution, the initial texture of the commercial alloy was diminished after 8 passes and the grain orientation distribution became to be close to random case.     

Failure of AA 6061 and 2099 aluminum alloys under dynamic shock loading

Microstructural aspects of the deformation and failure of AA 6061 and AA 2099 aluminum alloys under dynamic impact loading are investigated and compared with their responses to quasi-static mechanical loading in compression. Cylindrical specimens of the alloys, heat-treated to T4, T6 and T8 tempers, were subjected to dynamic compressive loading at strain rates of between 2800 and 9200 s⁻¹ and quasi-static compressive loading at a strain rate of 0.0032 s⁻¹. Plastic deformation under the dynamic impact loading is dominated by thermal softening leading to formation of adiabatic shear bands. Both deformed and transformed shear bands were observed in the two alloys. The shear bands offer preferential crack initiation site and crack propagation path in the alloys during impact loading leading to ductile shear fracture. While cracks propagate along the central region of transformed bands in AA 6061 alloy, the AA 2099 alloy failed by cracks that propagate preferentially along the boundary region between the transformed shear bands and the bulk material. Whereas the AA 2099 alloy shows the greatest propensity for adiabatic shear banding and failure in the T8 temper condition, AA 6061 alloy is most susceptible to formation of adiabatic shear bands and failure in the T4 temper. Deformation under quasi-static loading is dominated by strain hardening in the two alloys. Rate of strain hardening is higher for naturally aged AA 6061 than the artificially aged alloy, while the strain hardening rate for the AA 2099 alloy is independent of the temper condition. The AA 2099 alloy shows a superior mechanical behaviour under quasi-static compressive loading whereas the AA 6061 shows a higher resistance to impact damage.     

Texture modification and mechanical properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet subjected to equal channel angular bending

Analysis of the recently proposed equal channel angular bending(ECAB)process is provided on thin hotrolled AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets.In particular,effects of deformation temperature and strain path on the texture evolution and mechanical properties are systematically investigated under single pass ECAB at various temperatures and multi-pass ECAB process that involves changes in strain paths.It is found that simultaneous activation of multiple twinning types is successfully introduced during ECAB,which results in obvious tilted component of basal texture.Attributed to the domination of extension twins,weaker basal textures are detected after both single pass ECAB at 150℃and three cross passes ECAB at 200℃.After annealing,the basal texture is further weakened via twin-related recrystallization and the annealed microstructure is featured with mixture of basal and non-basal orientated grains.Additionally,the effect of grain orientation on the mode of plastic deformation and the roles of grain orientation and grain boundary on the local strain accommodation are coherently studied.This study reveals that over 60%increase of uniform elongation with marginal reduction of tensile strength less than 5%can be achieved for single pass ECAB at 150℃and three cross passes ECAB at 200℃,which is the result of larger fraction of grains favored with extension twinning and better local strain accommodation.     

Effect of equal channel angular pressing on grain refinement and texture evolution in a biomedical alloy Ti13Nb13Zr

Evolution of texture and concomitant grain refinement during Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) of Ti13Nb13Zr alloy has been presented. Sub-micron sized equiaxed grains with narrow grain size distribution could be achieved after eight pass at 873 K. A characteristic ECAP texture evolved in α phase till four passes while the evolution of characteristic ECAP texture in the β phase could be observed only beyond the fourth pass. On increasing the deformation up to eight passes, the texture in α phase weakens while the β phase shows an ideal ECAP texture. A weaker texture, low dislocation density and high crystallite size values in α phase suggest the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization. The absence of texture evolution in β phase till four passes can be attributed to local lattice rotations. The characteristic ECAP texture in the eight pass deformed sample is attributed to delayed dynamic recrystallization in the β phase.