Mechanical and microstructural behavior evolution of non-ferrous metals by ECASD

In this study, Equal-Channel Angular Sheet Drawing- ECASD with a die set at 135° was used to produce plastic deformation onto an aluminum alloy AA-1100-O and a magnesium alloy AZ31-O samples, expecting a decreasing the grain size in order to increase the plasticity of these alloys under certain specific working conditions. In this study, the microstructural and mechanical properties changed due to this process were ana-lyzed by optical microscopy and mechanical testing like micro-hardness and tension test. ECASD produces work hardening with no significant dimensional changes into the flat specimens with small changes in the microstructural characteristics. The ECASD process also produces important microstructural changes close to the surface of the investigated samples therefore its hardness is strongly modified in this region. This is due to the high contact stresses and friction developed with the die during the ECASD process.