A Comparison of Flow Stress and Microstructure Development of Al Alloys in Plane Strain Compression and Multiple Forging

Multiple forging (MF) can be used to attain large plastic strains in bulk alloys by successive forging along three orthogonal directions to retain the initial sample shape. An original multiple forging technique enabling 3-D cross forging at constant temperature up to 500 degrees C has been applied to two At alloys (Al-l%Mn and A]-3%Mg-Sc,Zr). Their rheology, texture and microstructure evolution are compared with those obtained in plane strain compression (PSC). The results are interpreted in terms of slip activity behaviour during both deformation modes. They can also be correlated with the contributions of free dislocations and sub-boundaries.