Local Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of EN AW 6082 Aluminium Alloy Processed via ECAP–Conform Technique

An ultrafine-grained EN AW 6082 aluminum alloy was prepared by continuous serve plastic deformation (i.e., thermo-mechanical equal channel angular pressing (ECAP)–Conform process). A miniaturized tensile testing technique was used for estimating local mechanical properties with the aim to reveal the inhomogeneity of elastic and plastic properties in a workpiece volume. These inhomogeneities may appear due to the irregular shear strain distribution in a Conformed wire. Miniaturized samples for tensile testing were cut from the Conformed workpiece. Elongation of miniaturized samples was measured with a 2D digital image correlation technique as the optical extensometer. Tensile test characteristics, such as the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, were consequently compared with results of conventional and hardness tests. The microstructure of Conformed bars was studied in the cross-section perpendicular and parallel to the extrusion direction using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. The microstructure of samples exhibits pronounced inhomogeneity, which is reflected by the hardness and tensile test results. Estimated distinctions between peripheral and central parts of the Conformed wires are probably a consequence of the significant strain differences realized in the upper and bottom wire parts.