Tailoring the microstructure and tribological properties in commercially pure aluminium processed by High Pressure Torsion Extrusion

Abstract

High Pressure Torsion Extrusion (HPTE) as a novel approach in mechanical nanostructuring of metallic materials and alloys has the potential to be utilized in industrial applications due to its unique features in fabricating bulk-nanostructured materials with enhanced mechanical and functional properties. Three different HPTE regimes based on the extrusion speed of the punch (v, mm/min) and rotational speed of the die (ω, rpm) were used in this work: v7w1, v1w1, and v1w3. The grain refinement obtained by this technique was outstanding since the initial grain size of 120 μm in annealed conditions was reduced to the final grain size of 0.7 μm in v1w3 in merely one pass of extrusion; however, each regime showed a different level of grain refinement depending on the imposed strain. Examination of the tribological properties by reciprocal wear testing in dry conditions revealed no significant change in the coefficient of friction; nevertheless, the mechanism of the wear from adhesion shifted to abrasion and the amount of displaced volume decreased. This modification is associated with the improvement of hardness and the reduction of plasticity in materials that confined the plastic shearing. Increasing the induced strain by changing the HPTE regimes decreased the overall displaced volume and reduced the built-up edge around the wear track.

Keywords

• mechanical nanostructuring
• microstructural evolution
• wear resistance
• friction coefficient.