The influence of the number of passes in equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) following route B(C) on microstructure and mechanical properties of interstitial-free steel was investigated by means of tensile tests and X-ray texture and diffraction profile analysis. A significant improvement of the mechanical properties was found with increasing the number of ECAP passes.
After 8 passes, beside the high strength considerable ductility was observed and at 300 degrees C the ductility was the same as for the initial sample but with a two-times larger strength. The high strength measured at room temperature was only slightly reduced during annealing at temperatures up to 500 degrees C. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V.
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