The combined effect of aging and accumulative roll bonding on the evolution of the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of an Al–0.2 wt % Zr alloy

Abstract

This work is devoted to the effect of processes initiated by the combined action of aging (A) and accumulative roll bonding (ARB) on the evolution of the microstructure and the mechanical characteristics of an Al–0.2 wt % Zr alloy. Upon solution treatment (ST), followed by aging at temperatures of 350 and 450°C, the specimens were subjected to deformation to a degree of deformation of 80% using ARB. The evolution of the microstructure was examined using atomic force microscopy and the mechanical characteristics of the specimens were determined using tensile tests and Vickers microhardness measurements. The results have shown that, upon ten ARB cycles, the grain size decreased to 0.3, 0.4, and 0.32 μm in the specimens subjected to ST followed by ARB (ST–ARB), ST followed by A at a temperature of 350°C and ARB (350°C–A–ARB), and ST followed by A at a temperature of 450°C and ARB (450°C–A–ARB), respectively. This study has also shown that the combined use of preliminary A and subsequent ARB holds promise in enhancing the mechanical characteristics of the alloy due to precipitates that appear in the course of annealing. Fracture surfaces of the rolled specimens subjected to the tensile tests were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The results of these examinations have shown that in the specimens subjected to ST followed by ARB brittle fracture has been observed at the stage of the final ARB cycles, while in the A–ARB specimens cleavage facets (sites of fracture over the cleavage plane) and river lines have appeared on the fracture surfaces.