Severe plastic deformation of an as-cast hypoeutectic Al–Si alloy

Different equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) processing routes have been employed to investigate the flow plane microstructures in a hypoeutectic Al–7wt%Si. In the as-cast condition, this alloy exhibits equiaxed primary aluminum dendrite cells embedded in an Al–Si eutectic constituent. The observed microstructures have been compared to the predicted distortion of a volume element expected during idealized ECAP. The effect of different processing routes on the microstructure refinement, degree of homogenization of second phase particles, and associated mechanical properties are discussed.