On the microstructure, recrystallization texture, and mechanical properties of Al/WO₃/SiC hybrid nanocomposite during accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process

In this study, microstructure, recrystallization texture, and mechanical properties of Al/WO₃/SiC hybrid nanocomposite was investigated by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), analysis of orientation distribution function (ODF), and uniaxial tensile test during accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process. Microstructural observations show that the recrystallized grains are elongated in the rolling direction (RD) due to the Zener-pinning of nanoparticles at high angle grain boundaries and therefore growth is inhibited in the normal direction (ND) during the ARB process. The ODF investigation confirmed that after 5 cycles of ARB process, recrystallization is associated with nucleation of Goss, Q, and P components. When the number of ARB cycle was increased, Goss and Q recrystallization textures were eliminated, but on the other hand, the P, B and B* texture components were strongly developed. The ND-Cube and RT-Goss recrystallization texture is also formed with low intensity at the last stages. Also, the A and A^* shear textures which formed in the fifth cycle, shifted towards the Dillamor and Cu textures with increasing the number of ARB cycles. Furthermore, the samples were heated using DSC under Argon atmosphere with four different heating rates. The Kissinger, Ozawa, Boswell, and Starink methods were used to determine the recrystallization kinetics. It can be seen that recrystallization temperature and thereby activation energy (E_a) decreases with increasing the number of ARB cycles. Furthermore, the tensile strengths and elongation of the hybrid nanocomposite increased and decreased by increasing the number of ARB cycle and reached to a maximum value of 204.5Mpa and 6.1% at the end of 9th cycle, respectively.