Optimizing Thermomechanical Processing for Producing Bulk Fine-Grained Aluminum Alloy with Thermal Stability
This study investigates the thermal stability of fine-grained structures achieved through different severe plastic deformation (SPD) and heat treatment paths. Bulk fine-grained Al-0.1Sc-0.1Zr (wt%) alloy was produced via equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) using routes Bc or C, with aging before or after the ECAP. Electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses demonstrate excellent thermal stability of all four specimens. They maintain mean grain sizes below 5 μm after a 10 h thermal test at 450 °C, attributed to the presence of nano Al<sub>3</sub>(Sc,Zr) precipitates within the microstructures. Route Bc in the ECAP method forms more stable high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) than route C. Whether aging occurs before or after the ECAP, similar microstructural changes are observed after thermal testing, allowing fine-tuning of the microstructure depending on the application or subsequent processes.
Authors
- Ussadawut Patakham (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3678-0622)
- Chonlada Domrong
- Mitsuhiro Murayama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1965-4891)
- Chaiyasit Banjongprasert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7582-6200)
- Jesada Punyafu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6923-687X)
Institutions
- National Science and Technology Development Agency (TH)
- Kyushu University (JP)
- Chiang Mai University (TH)
- Virginia Tech (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Materials
- Published
- 2025-09-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174180
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Microstructure and mechanical properties
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.52
Funders
- Chiang Mai University
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Thailand Graduate Institute of Science and Technology