An Investigation on the Microstructure Evolution of Al-5Ti Alloys during an ECAP-CASTEX Process

Al-5Ti alloy wires with fine grain microstructures were prepared via a continuousequal channel angular pressing process with 1 to 4 passes in a castingextrusion (CASTEX) equipment equipped with a multi-channel die. The evolutionof Al-5Ti alloy microstructure during each forming pass was investigated. Thefracture of TiAl3 particle phases during deformation, as well astheir interaction with deformation, was also analyzed. The results proved that thecontinuous equal channel angular pressing process can effectively refine Almatrix structure and TiAl3 particle phases, improve thestrengthening effect of TiAl3 reinforcing particles on the matrixmetal and produce wires with fine grain microstructure.