Papers by Keyword: Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE)

Abstract: A concept based upon Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) is developed and introduced in the form of a Universal Re-usable Energy Absorption Device ‘UREAD’. In impact situations the device utilises the energy required to extrude deformable materials through the shear planes of a set of intersecting channels and hence provides the means to protect engineering structures. The impact force is absorbed through the resistance of a deformable material and the energy is dissipated through an operational stroke. This paper examines the use of this new concept under dynamic loading. The device performance and usability during dynamic impacts are tested in a landing frame type experiment where the effectiveness of the technique in reducing impact loads and energy are also examined.

Abstract: The Cockcroft-Latham (CL) damage factor has been calculated, using FEM simulation, during equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) of strain hardening materials. A high CL damage factor was predicted inside the billet and the damage was increased with the increasing strain hardening coefficient. This was closely related to a generation of increasingly high tensile stress in the deformation zone inside the billet due to an inhomogeneous deformation. The possibility of cracking inside the ECAE billets was confirmed in the ECAE processing of Ti-0.34O-0.95Fe and Ti-0.5Fe billets. The simulation further predicted that CL damage factor can be reduced by applying back pressure or friction force.

Abstract: In this paper, influence of temperature on warm temperature equal channel angular of AZ31 alloy was investigated by using numerical simulation and experimental investigation. The effective stress distribution rules and load-stroke curves viartions were obtained at different temperature. And the distribution of effective strain and the rules of deformation uniformity of three temperatures extrusion processing for round workpiece are obtained. The proper temperatures extrusion processing is acquired through comparing the results of three extrusion routes. The effect of the temperature on the accelerated grain refining during the ECAE operation was discussed in the numerical calculations with a view to the use of the process to bulk AZ31 alloys. On the basis of the simulations, the warm ECAE experiments are carried out. The geometries of finally pressed workpieces of the different temperature pressed samples are in good agreement with finite element analysis results．

Abstract: Recent studies have shown that severe plastic deformation processes (SPD) improve the mechanical properties of the processed parts. Some of the most outstanding SPD processes are as follows: High Pressure Torsion (HPT), Repetitive Corrugation and Straightening (RCS), Cyclic Extrusion Compression (CEC), Accumulative Roll Bonding (ARB), Conform and Continuous Combined Drawing and Rolling (CCDR), among others, but the most well-known is Equal Channel Angular Extrusion or Pressure (ECAE/ECAP). The aim of these processes is to introduce high values of deformation inside the parts in order to reduce the grain size and thus to improve the mechanical properties of the starting material. The study of the damage imparted to an AA-6082 alloy is made in the present work. This alloy is received as cast and it is quenched at a temperature of 530 °C during 4 hours in order to be processed by ECAE at room temperature using different geometries of the dies. The imparted damage is also studied by using FEM simulations.

Abstract: Effects of equal-channel angular extrusion (ECAE) process at 773K and heat treatment on phase transformations and superelasticity of a Ni-rich TiNi shape memory alloy were investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) measurement and cyclic tensile test. The R phase transformation of Ni-rich TiNi alloy was stimulated after ECAE processes and within a larger temperature range. The martensitic transformation start temperature Ms of Ni-rich TiNi alloy decreased sharply after ECAE processes at 773 K, then rapidly rose back after the specimen aging at 773K for 30min. Reasons for the changes of phase transformation behaviors have been discussed. ECAE processed TiNi samples exhibit better super-elasticity than solution treated one. With the increase passes of ECAE, the superelasticity becomes more stable, and a completely recoverable strain of 6% is obtained for TiNi sample after 8 passes ECAE.

Abstract: Commercial pure Ti (CP Ti) was subjected to the effects of ECAE processes at 673 K by Bc path. The initial 80~100 μm equiaxed and coarse grains were elongated along the shearing force direction of ECAE and refined to ~300 nm after the eight passes ECAE. Surface roughness of CP Ti samples and contact angle of deionized water on CP Ti surface, with coarse or ultrafine grains, modified by polish and HF treatment have been investigated. It is found that CP Ti substrates with ultrafine grains show a significantly lower water contact angle and higher surface energy compared with coarse-grains. HF treatment on pure Ti surfaces brings higher surface roughness and hydrophobicity than polish treated. These results reveal that the combination of ultrafine grains and higher surface roughness, hydrophobic allows a favorable condition for cell growth and bone generation on the surfaces of pure Ti after ECAE process.

Abstract: A Ni-rich Ti-50.7.at%Ni alloy was processed by Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) at 500°C. After 8 passes ECAE, microstructure was refined to sub-micron scale, approximately 0.2 μm～0.3 μm. TEM observation reveals that Ti3Ni4 phase precipitated in Ni-rich Ti-50.7.at%Ni alloy during the preheating treatment before each ECAE pass, but re-dissolved during sequent ECAE processes. After ECAE treatment, the B2R transformation occurred within a larger temperature range. Comparing with the solution-treated TiNi specimen, the martensitic transformations start (Ms) and peak temperatures (Mp) of TiNi specimens ECAEed were dramatically lowered. Super-elasticity characteristics of TiNi alloy were tested by tensile loading and unloading cycles. The results reveal that at a tensile strain of 4% or smaller, ultrafine-grained (UFG) TiNi alloy processed by 4 passes ECAE shows better super-elasticity than solution-treated sample. Microstructure evolution and its effect on phase transformations and super-elasticity characteristics have been discussed.

Abstract: The effect of ECAE pass number on the electrochemical properties of CP-Ti was investigated by electrochemical techniques (potentiodynamic polarization test, potentiodynamic polarization test and surface analyses (OM, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in Ringer’s solution at 37°C. The results show that the corrosion resistance of muli-pass ECAE CP-Ti samples is superior to the coarse grain CP-Ti. The effect of texture of ECAEed samples parallel to the surface on the corrosion properties has been discussed.

Abstract: An Al-4.57%Mg–0.2%Sc was subjected to equal channel angular pressing up to fixed true strains of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 at a temperature of 300oC. It was shown that extensive grain refinement occurs in this alloy through continuous dynamic recrystallization. As a result, ECAP can provide the formation of subgrain structure, partially recrystallized structure and fully recrystallized structure. The type of structure evolved is dependent on strain imposed. At ε2, the formation of three-dimensional arrays of low-angle boundaries takes place. Next, in the strain interval from 4 to 8 these low-angle boundaries gradually convert into high-angle boundaries. At ε12, fully recrystallized structure is evolved. Yield stress and ultimate strength gradually increases with increasing strain. Mechanisms of strengthening are discussed.

Abstract: TEM investigation was performed on a recycled aluminum processed by Equal Channel Angular Extrusion. The aluminum contains many inclusions which were identified to be rich in iron and silicon.This has a substantial effect in dragging recovery. ECAE was performed via routes B and C using a die formed by two channels characterized by the well defined angles =90° and  = 90°. The evolution of the microstructure seems to be similar whether using route B or C. a high dislocation density was introduced since the first passage together with a high density of Frank dislocation loops. The latter are due to a by-passing of inclusions by cross-slip mechanism. Weak beam experiments enable us to investigate the early stages of recovery consisting in the formation of dislocation walls and few dislocation cells. A partial arrangement of dislocations was observed since the first passage through the die. The formation of dislocation cells began already before annealing and progresses at more elevated temperatures. The substantive recovery seems to push recrystallization process to high temperatures. By contrast, DSC investigations show a significant difference: The amount of energy deduced from the area of the peak relative to recrystallization is higher when using route C.