Forming novel texture and enhancing the formability in Mg–3Al–Zn alloy sheets fabricated by transverse gradient extrusion

Abstract

Transverse gradient extrusion (TGE) process was firstly proposed to fabricate Mg–3Al–1Zn (AZ31) alloy sheet, thereby tailoring the strong basal texture of conventional extruded (CE) sheet. A novel texture formed in the TGE sheet, which tilted about 65° from normal direction (ND) to extrusion direction (ED) and elongated along transverse direction (TD). The basal texture component disappeared completely. Because of the formation of unique texture and uniform fined grain structure by TGE process, the extruded sheet exhibited a large Erichsen value (IE) of 6.7 mm at room temperature, which was approximately 258% of the CE sheet.