Factors influencing microstructural development in equal-channel angular pressing

Processing through the imposition of severe plastic deformation (SPD) provides an opportunity for achieving very significant grain refinement in bulk materials. Although different SPD procedures are available, the process of equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) is especially attractive because it can be scaled easily to produce relatively large samples. This paper describes the principles of ECAP processing and demonstrates the potential for achieving unusual mechanical properties in the samples subjected to ECAP. Special emphasis is placed on the possibility of attaining a high strain rate superplastic forming capability in the as-pressed materials: examples are presented for an Al-Mg-Sc alloy prepared in the laboratory by casting and for a commercial Al-2024 alloy.