Microstructure and mechanical properties of 1050/6061 laminated composite processed by accumulative roll bonding

1050/6061 laminated composite sheets have been fabricated by the accumulative roll bonding (ARB) using commercial 1050 and 6061 aluminium alloys. Through-thickness hardness and tensile testes have been conducted to examine the mechanical properties of the laminated composites. It has been found that the strength of the composite materials is between the strengths of 6061 and 1050 primary materials. The average hardness of the 6061 layer is almost twice of the average value of the 1050 layer for both one and two-cycle processed composites. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to evaluate the microstructure of the composites. Grain refinement has been observed for both the 1050 and 6061 layers. The 1050 layer showed coarser and more equiaxed microstructure than the 6061 layer after the second ARB cycle.