Investigation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum/brass composite produced by ARB process

Accumulative roll-Bonding process (ARB) that is a severe plastic deformation (SPD) process is investigated by the authors in order to fabricate ultrafine grained aluminum/brass composite . In this study, aluminum composite is reinforced with brass in seven cycles of ARB at room temperature and without any heat treatment between production cycles. Tensile strength and hardness of the composite increases strongly in the first cycle. These mechanical properties do not change significantly with increasing the number of cycles. After seven cycles of process, tensile strength and hardness of the composite compared to the initial Al sheet respectively increased to 46 and 85 percent. Also elongation of the composite decreases strongly in the first two cycles and slightly increased in the following cycles. This changes in the mechanical properties during the ARB process are due to the strain hardening and cold working mechanism in the primary cycles and the grain refinement in the final cycles. The microstracture results of the composite shows that the average value of grains reached 250 nm and the distribution of brass particles in the composite become more uniform with increasing the ARB cycles.