Optimization of RT superplasticity of UFG Zn-22Al alloy by applying ECAP at different temperatures and phase regions

Zn-22Al alloy was subjected to either one-step or two-step equal channel pressing (ECAP) to investigate the effect of processing temperature on its microstructure and room temperature (RT) superplasticity. In one-step ECAP processes, 4 passes ECAP were applied to the alloy at different temperatures: RT, 100°C and 250°C in two-phase region below eutectoid temperature and 350°C in single-phase region above eutectoid temperature. In two-step ECAP processes, one-step ECAP-processed samples were subjected to four more passes ECAP at RT. Considering the one-step ECAP processing, RT superplasticity increased with decreasing ECAP temperature as expected, and the highest RT superplasticity was achieved as 350% after 4 passes ECAP at RT. On the other hand, application of 4 more passes ECAP at RT to the sample showing the lowest superplastic elongation after one-step ECAP (the sample processed at 350°C) resulted in the maximum RT elongation of 400% at a high strain rate of 5×10-2 s-1. These results suggest that first step temperature of two-step ECAP process is needed to increase above the eutectoid point of Zn-22Al alloy to achieve high RT superplasticity. These results were attributed to the changes in microstructure inside the single-phase and two-phase regions during the processes.