Superior Microstructural Stability and Strengthening of Al-Mg (5052) Alloy Over Pure Aluminum (1050) during Multi-pass Constrained Groove Pressing
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s11665-026-14967-9
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Applied Science & Technology Source, Chemical Abstracts Core, Compendex, INSPEC, Engineering Source (EBSCO), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: constrained groove pressing (CGP), fine grain (FG), microstructural stability, severe plastic deformation (SPD), strengthening mechanisms
- Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques like constrained groove pressing (CGP) are widely used for producing ultra-fine-grained materials with superior strength. However, the microstructural stability of these materials, especially pure metals, during multi-pass processing with necessary inter-pass thermal treatments remains a significant challenge. The critical issue of microstructural instability, specifically abnormal grain growth that can occur during the thermal cycles of multi-pass SPD, ultimately leads to degraded mechanical properties and limits practical applications. This work provides a process design-oriented comparison of AA1050 and AA5052 subjected to identical multi-pass CGP with a common inter-pass anneal at 343 °C after the second pass. Their microstructural evolution was analyzed using optical microscopy, and their tensile properties were characterized. The 1050 aluminum exhibited grain refinement after two passes but suffered significant grain growth after the third pass, causing a pronounced drop in strength. In contrast, the 5052 alloy demonstrated exceptional microstructural stability, with progressive grain refinement and a continuous increase in ultimate tensile strength, reaching its peak after the third pass. This suggests that the presence of alloying elements, which form stabilizing precipitates, is crucial for designing robust SPD processes that maximize mechanical performance. By quantifying grain size evolution, UTS, YS, ductility, and UTS/YS ratios for both alloys, the study demonstrates that a single thermal schedule representative of service conditions can completely erase the SPD-induced strength gains in AA1050 through abnormal grain growth, whereas AA5052 maintains refined grains and continues to strengthen. These findings highlight the importance of alloy selection when multi-pass SPD must be combined with unavoidable thermal cycles.