Dynamic strain aging precipitation of Mg17Al12 in AZ80 magnesium alloy during multi-directional forging process

Abstract

Dynamic aging precipitation of Mg17Al12 phases in AZ80 magnesium alloy was studied by multi-directional forging (MDF) with decreasing temperatures from 410 to 300 °C. The results show that the morphology of the dynamically precipitated β-Mg17Al12 phases (formed during forging process) exhibited granular shape. During the multi-directional forging process, the inhomogeneous dynamic precipitation of the β-Mg17Al12 phases result in the coexistence of the fine grains (with many granular Mg17Al12 phases) and coarse grains (without Mg17Al12 phases) in the samples. The fine grains (with many granular Mg17Al12 phases) area expands with the decreasing of final forging temperature. The inhomogenous Al content distribution in the Mg matrix leads to the non-uniform dynamic precipitation of the Mg17Al12 phase. These Mg17Al12 phase retards the growth of the DRX grains, which in turns results in the formation fine grains area during the during the MDF process with temperature decreasing.