Application of UFG 5XXX series aluminium alloy

Application of UFG 5XXX series aluminium alloy is a micro heat exchanger, which is a crucial component of many microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Their efficiency is determined predominantly by size and density of cooling channels and the heat conductivity of the material from which it is fabricated. Fine, high density channels in a metal with high conductivity can strongly improve efficiency as compared to incumbent heat exchanger technology.

Other application is embossing to UFG Al foil at elevated temperature, whilst embossing at conventional grain size Al foil and embossing at room temperature were both prone to processing problems. Embossing of Equal-channel angular pressing ECAP processed UFG aluminium alloys has shown a good potential for application in micro device fabrication.

It is known that application of high pressure torsion (HPT) contributes to formation of ultrafine grained structure and achievement of a high strength in various metals and alloys. At the same time a coarsening of the grains is observed in many HPT metals even at low homological temperatures. The reasons for grain growth in UFG materials are the enhanced grain boundary energy and high grain boundary mobility.

As severe plastic deformation (SPD) procedures enable to produce UFG materials in bulk shape, there is an increasing interest for these materials with respect to their technological applications. This interest is especially large for SPD processing of those materials which are traditionally basic materials in the industry (e.g. precipitation-hardened Al alloys).