Influence of processing conditions on EN AW 2014 material properties and fracture behaviour

The paper deals with the influence of processing conditions on material properties and fracture behaviour of the aluminium alloy EN AW 2014, depending on various processing conditions (as-rolling, quenching, severe plastic deformation – SPD by equal channel angular pressing – ECAP and ageing). (Tensile tests were carried out at strain rate of 2.5 × 10−4 s−1.) The evaluated mechanical properties show that ECAP has the highest effect on formability and mechanical properties of the aluminium alloy EN AW 2014. Severe plastic deformation by means of ECAP causes rapid increase of strength and only partial decrease of ductility was achieved. Strengthening of material is caused by grains refinement, strain hardening of solid solution. Fractographical examinations revealed that there were two categories of dimples of transcrystalline ductile fracture, large dimples, formed by the intermetallic particles and small dimples, formed by submicroscopic and dispersive particles.