Effect of Zn content on microstructure evolution in Al–Zn alloys processed by high-pressure torsion

Abstract Al–Zn alloys having different Zn contents of 2, 5, 10 and 30 wt% were processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) to produce ultrafine-grained (UFG) materials. Microstructural features these UFG investigated using depth-sensing indentations, focused ion beam (FIB), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) differential calorimetry (DSC). Emphasis was placed on the microstructure evolution with Zn-concentration which demonstrated substantially mechanical behavior, exhibiting superductility increasing content. It shown that in every case, HPT resulted decomposition microstructure, but there is a significant difference between microstructures low high Based microstructural observations, scenario proposed about how decomposed developed during process low- Zn-containing alloys, influencing their behavior. Graphical abstract