Microstructure evolution and aging kinetics of Al-Mg-Si and Al-Mg-Si-Sc alloys processed by ECAP

A study was carried out on a ECAP processed Sc-containing Al-Mg-Si alloy and on a reference 6082 alloy to investigated grain structure evolution during severe plastic deformation and post-ECAP aging behaviour. The results showed that the mechanism of ultrafine structure development was substantially unchanged with respect to a reference Sc-free alloy. Also the aging sequence and precipitation kinetics of the two alloys revealed to be comparable. The ECAP processed samples of the 6082 reference alloy showed a clear recrystallization peak at temperatures in the range 315-360°C, depending on the amount of strain experienced, whereas the Sc-containing alloy retained its ultrafine structure up to temperatures well exceeding 450°C, under the conditions reproduced in a DSC temperature scan.