The Influence of Equal-Channel Angular Pressing on the Microstructure and Properties of a Steel–Aluminum Composite
Under the global initiative for automotive lightweighting to address climate challenges, this study investigates the microstructure evolution of steel–aluminum composites processed by hot equal-channel angular pressing (H-ECAP). Using 6061-T6 aluminum cores clad with 20 # low carbon steel tubes proc...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Metals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/7/774 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849406524909158400 |
|---|---|
| author | Yang Liu Junrui Xu Bingnan Chen Yuqi Fan Wenxin Lv Hua Sun |
| author_facet | Yang Liu Junrui Xu Bingnan Chen Yuqi Fan Wenxin Lv Hua Sun |
| author_sort | Yang Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Under the global initiative for automotive lightweighting to address climate challenges, this study investigates the microstructure evolution of steel–aluminum composites processed by hot equal-channel angular pressing (H-ECAP). Using 6061-T6 aluminum cores clad with 20 # low carbon steel tubes processed through 1–4 C-path passes (Φ = 120°, ψ = 30°), we demonstrate significant microstructural improvements. The steel component showed progressive grain refinement from 2.2 μm (1 pass) to 1.3 μm (4 pass), with substructures decreasing from 72.19% to 35.46%, HAGB increasing from 31.2% to 34.6%, and hardness increasing from 222 HV to 271 HV. Concurrently, aluminum experienced grain refinement from 59.3 μm to 28.2 μm, with recrystallized structures surging from 0.97% to 71.81%, HAGB increasing from 9.96% to 63.76%, and hardness increasing from 51.4 HV to 83.6 HV. The interfacial layer thickness reduced by 74% (29.98 μm to 7.78 μm) with decreasing oxygen content, containing FeAl<sub>3</sub>, Fe<sub>2</sub>Al<sub>5</sub>, and minimal matrix oxides. Yield strength gradually increased from 361 MPa (one pass) to 372.35 MPa (four passes), accompanied by a significant enhancement in compressive strength. These findings reveal that H-ECAP’s thermomechanical coupling effect effectively enhances interface bonding quality while suppressing detrimental intermetallic growth, providing a viable solution to overcome traditional manufacturing limitations in steel–aluminum composite applications for sustainable mobility. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e11c9a99912b4f30bae075b5fda651ac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4701 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metals |
| spelling | doaj-art-e11c9a99912b4f30bae075b5fda651ac2025-08-20T03:36:21ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012025-07-0115777410.3390/met15070774The Influence of Equal-Channel Angular Pressing on the Microstructure and Properties of a Steel–Aluminum CompositeYang Liu0Junrui Xu1Bingnan Chen2Yuqi Fan3Wenxin Lv4Hua Sun5School of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaUnder the global initiative for automotive lightweighting to address climate challenges, this study investigates the microstructure evolution of steel–aluminum composites processed by hot equal-channel angular pressing (H-ECAP). Using 6061-T6 aluminum cores clad with 20 # low carbon steel tubes processed through 1–4 C-path passes (Φ = 120°, ψ = 30°), we demonstrate significant microstructural improvements. The steel component showed progressive grain refinement from 2.2 μm (1 pass) to 1.3 μm (4 pass), with substructures decreasing from 72.19% to 35.46%, HAGB increasing from 31.2% to 34.6%, and hardness increasing from 222 HV to 271 HV. Concurrently, aluminum experienced grain refinement from 59.3 μm to 28.2 μm, with recrystallized structures surging from 0.97% to 71.81%, HAGB increasing from 9.96% to 63.76%, and hardness increasing from 51.4 HV to 83.6 HV. The interfacial layer thickness reduced by 74% (29.98 μm to 7.78 μm) with decreasing oxygen content, containing FeAl<sub>3</sub>, Fe<sub>2</sub>Al<sub>5</sub>, and minimal matrix oxides. Yield strength gradually increased from 361 MPa (one pass) to 372.35 MPa (four passes), accompanied by a significant enhancement in compressive strength. These findings reveal that H-ECAP’s thermomechanical coupling effect effectively enhances interface bonding quality while suppressing detrimental intermetallic growth, providing a viable solution to overcome traditional manufacturing limitations in steel–aluminum composite applications for sustainable mobility.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/7/774lightweight engineeringheating equal-channel angular pressing (H-ECAP)steel–aluminum composite material |
| spellingShingle | Yang Liu Junrui Xu Bingnan Chen Yuqi Fan Wenxin Lv Hua Sun The Influence of Equal-Channel Angular Pressing on the Microstructure and Properties of a Steel–Aluminum Composite Metals lightweight engineering heating equal-channel angular pressing (H-ECAP) steel–aluminum composite material |
| title | The Influence of Equal-Channel Angular Pressing on the Microstructure and Properties of a Steel–Aluminum Composite |
| title_full | The Influence of Equal-Channel Angular Pressing on the Microstructure and Properties of a Steel–Aluminum Composite |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Equal-Channel Angular Pressing on the Microstructure and Properties of a Steel–Aluminum Composite |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Equal-Channel Angular Pressing on the Microstructure and Properties of a Steel–Aluminum Composite |
| title_short | The Influence of Equal-Channel Angular Pressing on the Microstructure and Properties of a Steel–Aluminum Composite |
| title_sort | influence of equal channel angular pressing on the microstructure and properties of a steel aluminum composite |
| topic | lightweight engineering heating equal-channel angular pressing (H-ECAP) steel–aluminum composite material |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/7/774 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yangliu theinfluenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT junruixu theinfluenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT bingnanchen theinfluenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT yuqifan theinfluenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT wenxinlv theinfluenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT huasun theinfluenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT yangliu influenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT junruixu influenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT bingnanchen influenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT yuqifan influenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT wenxinlv influenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite AT huasun influenceofequalchannelangularpressingonthemicrostructureandpropertiesofasteelaluminumcomposite |