Papers by Author: Jan Pospiech

Abstract: The effects associated with the change of the deformation path - such as the replacement of homogeneous multi-slip by heterogeneous deformation and a decrease of global strain hardening - have been utilised in the metal forming operation termed KOBO technology. In the case of extrusion it consists in reversible, cyclic twisting of a billet under the extrusion force. The technology enables extrusion of metals with very large deformation in one operation at low temperature. A complex scheme of straining, large cumulated deformation and low temperature of the process results in a fine grained microstructure of the extruded material (product). The new technology requires detailed studies of the mechanism of the plastic deformation with the specific geometry of the zone of metal flow during extrusion. Essential in these studies is the information on the texture and microstructure in the deformation zone. The aim of this work is therefore to disclose the deformation mechanisms on the basis of the observations of microstructure and texture evolution in the zone of plastic flow of the extrudate. Coarse grained polycrystalline billets of magnesium alloys AZ31 were extruded by KOBO at room temperature and also by a conventional method at about 400°C. Methods of texture topography as well as optical observations reveal the specific microstructure and texture in mezzo and micro scale of heavily deformed material after extrusion. It is worth mentioning that the KOBO process leads to compact and rather homogeneous extrudates even in the case of AZ alloys. These hexagonal metals cannot be cold-formed to a high reduction with conventional techniques.

Abstract: Relatively high mechanical strength and simultaneously good plasticity of a crystalline material are determined by the state of its internal structure, preferably nano- or ultra-fine grained one. To achieve the above combination of properties, various manners of plastic deformation and heat treatment are applied in practice. One of the most effective processes in this field is severely plastic deformation, e.g. by the method of equal angular channel pressing (ECAP). During the ECAP, favourable effects of grain fragmentation and the formation of specific orientation relations can be attenuated by the process of structure recovery, especially, when the real temperature of angular extrusion is elevated for physical or technological reasons. An attempt to modify the ECAP technology was considered, to avoid the unfavourable temperature effects and to increase at the same time the efficiency of manufacturing the ultra-fine structure of material. Extrusion of dual-material (AZ31 + Al) ingot was performed at room temperature. As it seems, the well known difficulties with plastic deformation of materials with hexagonal lattice symmetry, like AZ31 alloy, have been decreased. Both experimental and methodological aspects of the angular extrusion of the dual-material ingot and chosen microstructure characteristics (texture, stress, morphology) are presented. On the basis of the suggested modification, the text discusses an explanation of physical origins of the microstructure evolution in the investigated material revealed by experiments.

Abstract: The change of the deformation path leads to destabilization of the substructure and affects the texture of the deformed metal. The observed changes of texture and microstructure are, as a rule, significant and their characteristics depend on the geometry of the deformation process. Previous investigations on copper (and copper alloy) samples after deformation by rolling and channel-die compression were based on X-ray pole figure measurements and on observations in the light microscope. Hereby only global texture and structural characteristics have been obtained. The present study is mainly based on measurements of individual crystal orientations performed by ACOM (Automated Crystal Orientation Measurement, “Automated EBSD”) in the SEM which enables a precise local analysis of the investigated phenomena. For the channel-die experiments, (1 1 2)[1 1 -1] and (1 1 2)[1 -1 0] oriented copper single crystals have been used. After pre-deformation, a second deformation step has been carried out in transverse direction. The {1 1 2}<1 1 0> orientations are destabilized by channel-die compression, and clusters of layers develop which are composed of complementary {1 1 0}<1 1 2> components. The deformation process in polycrystalline sheets after rotating the rolling direction leads again to a distinct disintegration of the microstructure and destabilization of the b fiber. This process of microstructure reorganization after pre-deformation is fast and of high dynamics.

Abstract: The objectives of this investigation are structural effects in electrolytic copper sheets which are caused by the change of the direction of rolling. Unidirectional, reverse as well as cross-rolling at 90° respectively at 45° to the precedent rolling direction have been applied down to final deformations as low as 80% reduction in thickness. Texture has been determined by ACOM (Automated Crystal Orientation Measurement, “Automated EBSD”) in the SEM and by X-ray pole figure measurement. The main benefits of ACOM are a high spatial resolution which enables the investigation of texture gradients from the mid plane to the surface of the sheet, and the visualization of the microstructure by crystal orientation mapping. In addition to local texture, statistical distributions of misorientations across grain boundaries and of S grain boundaries have been derived from the individual grain orientation data. The change of the path of plastic deformation induces a destabilization of the substructure which is formed during the primary step of unidirectional rolling. A distinct change of texture is found depending on the deformation process. In cross rolling, the b fiber changes into the unstable b90 fiber which almost disappears with progressive deformation along the new rolling direction.