Microstructural and Nanomechanical Characterization of Multistep Hot Cross Rolled AA7075 and AA7075/SiC/Gr Composite
摘要
AA7075 alloy and its hybrid composite reinforced with two percent by weight of SiC and 0.5 percent by weight of graphite are cross rolled at temperatures 350, 400 and 450 °C. The evolution of microstructure and micro-texture during the multistep hot cross rolling has been studied using Electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD). At 350 °C, the dominant softening mechanism was dynamic recovery (DRV), whereas, at 400 and 450 °C, continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) was prevalent. Grain boundary migration and sub-grain rotation resulted in the formation of new CDRX grains along the grain boundaries and inside the grain boundary. Goss (011) <100> , Brass (011) <211> and Rotated goss (011) <011> components are formed during cross rolling at high temperatures forming strong α fiber. At 350 °C, β and τ fibers appear with strong intensity and α fiber is weak. Microhardness and nanohardness values of hybrid composites rolled at 450 °C are found to be superior. There was a percentage increase of 22% in microhardness from the lowest microhardness of AA7075 alloy subjected to cross rolling at 350 °C. The elastic modulus and contact stiffness of both alloy and hybrid composite processed through cross rolling at 400 °C recorded the highest values of 67.863 GPa and 181.44 μN/nm, respectively.