Estimation of the mechanical properties of aluminium and an aluminium composite after equal channel angular pressing by means of the small punch test

The constant-deflection-rate mode of the small punch test can be used to estimate various mechanical properties and their changes during deformation or long-term exposure. In the present contribution, pure aluminium and the aluminium composite processed by equal channel angular pressing and the influence of number of passes are studied. Small punch tests are performed at the deflection rate of 0.005 mm/s at temperatures ranging from 20 to 350 °C. Three main quantities are determined: firstly yield force corresponding to the transition from elastic-bending to plastic-bending regimes, secondly maximum load and finally the deflection corresponding to this maximum. The relations of these quantities to corresponding quantities resulting from conventional tensile tests are analysed. The observed grain size is successfully explained with the recently published model of grain refinement during severe plastic deformation.