Microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-0.5 at.% X (=Si, Ag, Mg) alloys highly deformed by ARB process

Effect of solid solution elements on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties was investigated using a high purity Al (purity 99.99%) and Al-0.5 at.% X ( X = Si, Ag, Mg ) alloys deformed by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process up to 7 cycles (equivalent strain of 5.6) at ambient temperature. The ARB-processed high purity Al showed the equiaxed microstructure having mean grain size of 750 nm. On the other hand, the microstructure of the ARB-processed Al-0.5at.%X alloys showed lamellar boundary structures elongated along RD. The mean lamellar boundary spacing significantly differed depending on the alloying elements, which suggested that solute atoms had a significant effect on microstructure evolution. The difference in the grain size was regarded to be caused by the difference in recovery processes in the alloys. The tensile strength of the alloys increased with increasing the number of ARB cycles. In the Al-Si and Al-Ag alloys, the post-uniform elongation increased with increasing the number of the ARB cycles. On the other hand, the elongation of the Al-Mg hardly changed during the ARB process.