Grain refinement of a commercial 0.15%C steel by equal-channel angular pressing

초록

By introducing an intensive strain to the material without changing the cross section area, the equal-channel angular (ECA) pressing technique provides the capability of producing an ultra-fine grain size in metallic alloys. With the method, the sample is pressed through a die having a channel of equal cross-section bent at the center with an angle between 90 and 180°. ECA pressing is demonstrated to be a potential method to produce a low carbon steel of high-strength. Using the method, the ultimate tensile strength of commercial 0.15%C steel is increased by almost 70% after a single pass through the die.