Devices and methods for performing shear-assisted extrusion and extrusion processes

A method for preparing an extruded product from a solid billet, the method comprising:

• providing a metallic as-cast billet for extrusion;
• establishing, using at least one actuator a simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force between a scroll face of a die tool and the metallic as-cast billet in contact with the scroll face of the die tool to plasticize the metallic as-cast billet, wherein:
• the face of the die tool comprises at least a portion that is generally perpendicular to the axial extrusion force;
• the scroll face of the die tool defines an aperture and the portion comprises at least one spiral groove;
• and
• the metallic as-cast billet is not homogenized prior to applying the simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to the metallic as-cast billet;
• and
• extruding the plasticized metallic as-cast billet through the aperture with the die tool to form an extruded product, wherein the applying of the simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force causes the extruded product to be homogenized.

A method for preparing an extruded product from a solid billet, the method comprising:

• providing a metallic as-cast billet for extrusion, wherein the metallic as-cast billet includes intermetallic microstructures;
• applying a simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to the metallic as-cast billet using a scroll face of a die tool to plasticize the metallic as-cast billet, wherein:
• the scroll face of the die tool comprises at least a portion that is generally perpendicular to the axial extrusion force;
• and
• the scroll face defines an aperture and the portion comprises at least one spiral groove;
• and
• extruding the plasticized metallic as-cast billet through the aperture with the die tool to form an extruded product, wherein the intermetallic microstructures have been reduced in the extruded product.