Abstrakt
An AA3003 aluminum alloy prepared by twin-roll casting was modified by a small amount of zirconium. Annealing at 450 degrees C led to precipitation of coherent Al3Zr phase and a simultaneous co-precipitation of Mn-rich alpha-Al(Mn, Fe)Si phase.
Severe plastic deformation by equal channel angular pressing resulted in the grain refinement and increase of microhardness. Observation by electron back-scatter diffraction and in-situ transmission electron microscopy revealed influence of pre-annealing on microstructure changes during post-deformation heat treatment.
Dislocation recovery and precipitation of alpha-Al(Mn, Fe)Si particles preceded recrystallization at 450 degrees C in material which was not annealed before deformation. The pre-deformation annealing enabled dynamic recovery during deformation as it depleted the solid solution from Mn atoms.
Recrystallization was enhanced by Al3Zr precipitates.