Effects of holding time and Zener-Hollomon parameters on deformation behavior of cast Mg-8Gd-3Y alloy during double-pass hot compression

Abstract

Double-pass hot compression tests were carried out over a wide range of holding time (0–180 s) and Zener-Hollomon parameter (1.6E15–1.3E20) to study the deformation behavior of cast Mg-8Gd-3Y alloy. The flow curves show obvious work hardening and strain softening stages, leading to the peak stress of double-pass hot compression. Holding time and Zener-Hollomon parameter can significantly affect the second pass peak stress. It is found that increasing the holding time can cause a higher peak stress in the second pass deformation. The second pass stress reaches the peak stress of 71 MPa at Zener-Hollomom parameter of 1.6E15. When the parameter rises to 1.3E20, the second pass peak goes up to 237 MPa. In addition, the second pass peak stress is significantly higher than the unloading stress, which is opposite to the flow behavior of aluminum alloys. Residual stored deformation energy caused by the first pass deformation could be consumed by metadynamic recrystallization. Therefore, more strain energy is required for subsequent dynamic recrystallization, resulting in hardening behavior. A hardening fraction is defined to describe the deformation behavior quantitatively, which shows a positive correlation with the metadynamic recrystallization fraction. The metadynamic recrystallization leads to grain growth at the inter pass holding stage, diminishing dynamic recrystallization nucleation positions in the second pass deformation.