Equal channel angular pressing of Al-5 wt% TiB2 in situ composite

Abstract

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) of in situ Al-5 wt% TiB2 composite was successfully carried out at room temperature up to four passes. Large particle free zones of about 50-100 mu m size present in as cast condition have been reduced to 20-30 mu m by ECA pressing. The initially clustered distribution of TiB2 has become homogeneous after four ECAP passes. A significant grain refinement down to similar to 500 nm has been achieved by ECA pressing but the average particulates size remains unchanged at 0.5-0.6 mu m.