An electron backscatter diffraction analysis of the microstructure of pure aluminum processed by equal-channel angular pressing

Equal-channel angular (ECA) pressing is a promising method to achieve refinement of grain size to 1.0 micrometer or less for aluminum and its alloys. Computer-aided electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis of high purity aluminum (99.99%) which had been subjected to one pass, four passes, and twelve passes through an ECA die was performed. Grain and subgrain size and boundary misorientation distributions during such large-strain deformation processing were of particular interest. A texture was present after one pressing and the boundary misorientation distribution had a peak at 5 deg - 10 deg although boundaries were present in all misorientation ranges. Fine equaixed grains were achieved after twelve passes through the ECA die, accompanied by random orientation and misorientation distributions