Processing of aluminum alloys by severe plastic deformation

Processing through the application of severe plastic deformation (SPD) has become important over the last decade because it is now recognized that it provides a simple procedure for producing fully-dense bulk metals with grain sizes lying typically in the submicrometer range. There are two major procedures for SPD processing. First, equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) refers to the repetitive pressing of a metal bar or rod through a die where the sample is constrained within a channel bent through an abrupt angle at, or close to, 90 degrees. Second, high-pressure torsion (HPT) refers to the procedure in which the sample, generally in the form of a thin disk, is subjected to a very high pressure and concurrent torsional straining. Both of these processes are capable of producing metallic alloys with ultrafine grain sizes and with a reasonable degree of homogeneity. Furthermore, the samples produced in this way may exhibit exceptional mechanical properties including high strength at ambient temperature through the Hall-Petch relationship and a potential superplastic forming capability at elevated temperatures. This paper reviews these two procedures and gives examples of the properties of aluminum alloys after SPD processing.