The effect of the pre-homogenization treatment on the fracture characteristics and wear properties of ECAPed Al-Cu alloys

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) is a material processing method that allows very high strains to be imposed, leading to extreme work hardening and microstructural refinement. Billets of nonhomogenized (as-cast) and homogenized Al-2 and 3 wt.\%Cu alloys were successfully processed by (ECAP) up to different number of passes at room temperature. The effect of the pre-homogenization treatment before the (ECAP) process on the fracture characteristics and wear properties was investigated. The pre-homogenization treatment has an obvious effect on the fracture mode and fracture surface morphology of the Al-Cu alloys. The homogenized alloys have higher wear resistance than the nonhomogenized alloys. The wear mechanism depends on the sliding distance, applied load and the homogenization treatment. The analysis of the worn surfaces indicates the transfer of higher Fe amount from the rotating disc into the sliding pin in the case of nonhomogenized alloys than that in the case of the homogenized alloys. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.