Characterization of microstructure and deformation texture during equal channel Angular pressing of AlaZnaMgaCu alloy

The aim of this paper was to examine the microstructure and texture that develops during equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). Al-7075 alloy was subjected to 4 passes of ECAP deformation at room temperature by using Route BC and A. The texture was investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) in ED-plane (plane perpendicular to extrusion direction) as well as TD-plane (plane parallel to extrusion direction). The texture calculation by Labotex software reveals that in 1 pass ECAPed specimens, C theta is the strongest texture component, while after 4 passes B theta /B theta ' and A1 theta * are the strongest components in route A and BC, respectively, and also the results in both TD (z) and ED (x) planes are in good agreement. Texture strengthening was observed after the initial pass but there was evidence for texture weakening after 4 passes. Microstructure investigation by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that ultrafine-grained materials with grain size less than 500 nm could be obtained after 4 passes of ECAP process.