Achieving enhanced tensile ductility in an Al-6061 composite processed by severe plastic deformation

Tests were conducted on a metal matrix composite with an Al-6061 alloy as the matrix material and with 10 vol.% of alumina particulates as the reinforcement. For comparison purposes, some additional tests were also conducted on the unreinforced Al-6061 alloy. Processing of both materials was conducted by imposing severe plastic deformation through equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). It is shown that ECAP is effective in refining the grain sizes of both materials to ∼300 nm. Tensile tests were conducted at room temperature and at elevated temperatures to evaluate the mechanical properties after ECAP. The results show there is a potential for achieving high ductilities in the composite after processing by ECAP.