Abstract
Severe plastic deformation methods preserve dimensions of the material and reduce the grain size down to submicrometer scale. Twin-roll cast strips prepared from AA 3003 aluminum alloy (in wt.%) with 1 % Mn, 0.2 % Fe, 0.5 % Si, 0.2 % Cu and small additions of zirconium (0.2 %) and chromium (0.1 %) were subjected to deformation by Constrained Groove Pressing (CGP).
The microhardness distribution along the strip cross-section reflects an inhomogeneous distribution of total equivalent strain simulated by finite element method only for one CGP cycle. Subsequently, after third CGP cycle, microhardness saturates and its distribution becomes more homogenous.
Evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties during subsequent annealing was studied by transmission electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. Inhomogeneous recovery of dislocation structure and recrystallization were observed during this annealing.