Structure of MgLiAl alloys after various routes of severe plastic deformation studied by TEM

Abstract

Abstract Two MgLiAl alloys consisting either of α (hcp) + β (bcc) phases or only β phase were subjected to twist channel angular pressing TCAP (with helical component) or cyclic compression to a total strain of ∊ = 5 in order to study the effectiveness of various deformation modes on grain refinement. After the first TCAP pass grains of α phase were refined from 30 μm down to about 6 μm and of β phase from initial 200 μm down to 8 μm. MAXStrain cycling led to much finer grains of α and β phases in the range 200 – 300 nm causing higher hardening and indicating higher effectiveness of the process. The Li2MgAl precipitates were refined during severe plastic deformation (SPD) processes and in addition fine particles of hexagonal α phase of size below 100 nm were observed within the β phase showing orientation relationship (0001) α ‖ (011) β. Two-phase material after SPD showed deviation of about 1.5° from the ideal Burgers orientation relationship (0001) α ‖ (011) β.