Microstructural and mechanical characterisation of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy processed by multi-directional cryo-forging

Abstract Aim of the present investigation is to study the microstructural and mechanical properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy before and after multi-direction forging (MDF) at cryogenic condition up to 3 cycles. Microstructure evolution of specimen was examined using optical microscope and orientation imaging microscopy as well as X-ray diffraction. Mechanical properties were measured by tensile test and Vickers micro hardness. Microstructural investigation shows that after 3 cycle of MDF average grain size was reduced to 8 µm with low angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) and high dislocation density. Mechanical examination displays an improvement in hardness, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength is due to increases in grain boundaries and strain hardening effect. After 3 cycles of MDF process with cumulative strain ΣΔe = 3.64 led to the formation of fine grain structure, and microhardness were observed to be 168 HV.