Structure and strength of the 1570C aluminum alloy after complex SPD processing

Abstract

The effect of severe plastic deformation (SPD), realized via multi-directional forging (MDF) at a constant temperature of 325 °C, as well as via a combination of MDF with subsequent room temperature rolling or high pressure torsion, on the microstructure, static and fatigue strength parameters of an ingot of non-age-hardenable commercial aluminum alloy 1570C (Al-5Mg-0.18Mn-0.2Sc-0.08Zr) was studied. It is found that the most effective treatment to enhance the balance of the alloy properties involves a sequence of hot MDF and cold rolling due to the development of a work hardened ultrafine-grain structure with uniformly distributed nanosized aluminides of transition metals. The role of precipitates in the alloy structure- and property-formation is discussed.