Microstructures after processing by aging and ECAP for Al-Mg₂Si alloys containing excess Si or Mg

In this study, severe plastic straining through equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) is imposed on age-hardenable Al-Mg-Si alloys having two different compositions of excess Si or Mg in the Al-Mg₂Si pusedo-binary system. Thereafter, the alloys are subjected to aging and the microstructures are examined using transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that the precipitation behavior is significantly changed through application of ECAP.