Tailoring Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Nano/ultrafine Grained AA6063 Alloy Processed by Accumulative Roll Bonding Process

Abstract

In the present work, accumulative roll bonding (ARB) was used as an effective method for the process of nano/ultrafine-grained AA6063 alloy. Microstructural characteristics indicate considerable grain refinement leading to an average grain size of less than 200 nm after 7 ARB cycles. Texture analysis showed that 1-cycle ARB formed a strong texture near the copper component ({112}<111>). However, texture transition appeared by increasing the number of ARB cycles and after the 7-cycle of ARB, the texture was mainly developed close to the rotated cube component ({100}<110>). The results originated from mechanical properties indicated a substantial increment in strength and microhardness besides a meaningful drop of ductility after the 7 ARB cycles.