Texture evolution in an aluminum alloy processed by ECAP with concurrent precipitate fragmentation

The textural evolution of a spray-cast aluminum 7034 alloy was investigated during processing by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). Texture weakening was observed after the initial pass but there was evidence for texture strengthening after six passes. The initial deviation from the ideal shear texture components and from the predicted ECAP texture components is attributed to the occurrence of strain relaxation due to extensive precipitate fragmentation in the early stages of ECAP.