Effect of processing routes on evolution of texture heterogeneity in 2014 aluminium alloy deformed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP)

In the present study, the effect of the processing routes (A, B_A, B_C and C) of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) on texture evolution has been investigated for different initial microstructural conditions of the 2014 Al alloy. The present study also features the issue of heterogeneity in texture evolution along the thickness of the ECAP processed sample as a function of the processing routes. A stronger texture evolution was observed in the solution treated (ST) conditions for most of the processing routes (A, B_A and B_C except for C) due to the increased contribution from solid solution hardening during ECAP. A comparatively weak texture evolution is observed for as extruded+annealed and solutionised+aged conditions because of the strain scattering due to the fragmentation and dissolution of precipitates. The texture evolution along the thickness direction for ST samples suggests that the inherent heterogeneity of the ECAP process is minimised when processed via route C.