Papers by Author: Alexandre Goloborodko

Abstract: Microstructural changes taking place in an as-cast coarse-grained 7475 Al alloy was studied by using multidirectional forging (MDF) at a temperature of 250oC and at a strain rate of 3 × 10-4 s-1. The samples were deformed by MDF with a strain of 0.7 per pass up to cumulative strain (Σε) of 8.4. In the earlier stages of deformation, microstructural changes are mainly characterized by development of dislocation subboundaries with low-to-moderate misorientation angles. The misorientation angle initially increases with straining and reaches a plateau of around 3.7o in the strain range from 0.7 to 2.1, where new grain formation scarcely takes place in the original grain interiors. With further straining, grain fragmentation starts to occur accompanying with deformation bands developed at various directions, followed by rapid evolution of a new fine grain structure at large strain. The average grain size is around 1 μm at large strains and the average misorientation angle approaches a value of about 25o at Σε = 8.4.

Abstract: Effect of strain rate on grain refinement was studied in multidirectional forging (MDF) of a coarse-grained 7475 Al alloy at 490oC under strain rates of 3 × 10-4 s-1 and 3 × 10-2 s-1. At a strain rate of 3 × 10-4 s-1, the stress – strain ( σ - ε) behavior shows significant work softening just after yielding and a steady-state flow at higher strains. The structural changes are characterized by development of deformation bands at early stages of deformation, followed by formation of a fine grain structure in high strain in the whole material. The volume fraction of new grains increases with strain and approaches a value of about 0.85 over a strain of 3. At a higher strain rate of 3 × 10-2 s-1, in contrast, a steady-state flow following small flow softening appears at a relatively low strain. New grains are formed during steady state flow along original grain boundaries and the volume fraction reaches below 0.2 even in high strain. The occurrence conditions and the mechanisms of grain refinement are discussed in detail.

Abstract: Microstructural evolution during equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) was investigated in a coarse-grained dilute aluminum alloy, Al-3%Cu, at a temperature of 250oC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with electron back scattering diffraction (EBSD) and optical metallography (OM) was used to reveal the structural changes in the alloy deformed up to a strain of ε=12. The microstructural evolution at initial and moderate stages of deformation is characterized by the formation of low angle boundaries and deformation bands with moderate misorientations in grain interiors. With further deformation the number and the misorientation of the deformation bands increase, finally leading to the subdivision of original grains by these bands and then the development of fine grains with an average size of about 6 μm at ε=12. The evolution of deformation bands in initial grain interiors and their role on new grain formation are discussed in detail.

Abstract: Strain-induced grain refinement in a coarse-grained 7475Al alloy was studied by means of multidirectional forging (MDF) carried out at T = 490oC under a strain rate of 3 x 10-4 s-1. Integrated flow curves exhibit significant work softening just after yielding, followed by steady-state-like behavior at high strains. The evolution of new fine grain structure during deformation can be assisted by grain-boundary sliding, resulting in frequent formation of high strain gradients and subsequently microshear bands in grain interiors. Microshear bands developed in various directions are intersected with each other, subdividing original grains into misoriented small domains. The number and the misorientation angle of microshear bands progressively increase during deformation, finally followed by their transformation into high-angle boundaries. It is concluded that grain refinement under hot MDF conditions occurs by a series of deformation-induced continuous reactions; that is essentially similar to continuous dynamic recrystallization.