Miniature specimen tensile testing of AZ31 alloy processed by ECAP

Purpose: Evaluation of bulk nanomaterials and ultra-fine grain structures consists mostly of metallographic evaluation and hardness measurement. The documentation of mechanical properties by hardness testing only might be very inaccurate due to the measurement error and sensitivity. Moreover the yield stress, ultimate tensile stress an elongation determined by tensile testing are more suitable for description of mechanical properties. This article promotes miniature tensile testing. Although the miniature tensile testing could be commonly used for description of mechanical properties in SPD materials, it is quite unknown. Design/methodology/approach: In this article the miniature tensile testing was used for determination. of mechanical properties anisotropy in AZ31 alloy processed by ECAP. The verification was performed by comparison of conventional and miniature tensile specimens of the non-deformed bulk material. Findings: From the experimental procedure and results low material consumption during sampling, sampling and measurement simplicity and possibility to measure the properties in various directions are denoted. Research limitations/implications: Future detailed investigation of secondary phase particles and dislocation-precipitate interaction should be performed. This investigation was not performed as it requires transmission electron microscopy. Such investigation will be performed only for chosen specimens to confirm discussed hypotheses. Practical implications: The paper promotes application of miniature tensile testing for determination of mechanical properties in SPD processed materials. Application of this methodology allows determination of mechanical properties from local volume, material save or preformation of several experiments from a single specimen. Originality/value: The finding might be valuable for researchers in SPD field. The originality of this paper is based on novel methodology and its applicability.