Hot Deformation Behavior and Processing Map of a Novel Dilute Extruded Mg-Zn-Gd-Y-Nd Alloy

Abstract

Background: The hot working characteristic of magnesium alloys have received considerable attention in order to evaluate the constitutive behavior of these alloys under hot working conditions with a view to evaluate constitutive conditions to optimize hot workability and control the microstructure so as to obtain consistent mechanical properties. Methods: The hot deformation response of a new dilute Mg alloy was investigated by means of a series of hot compression tests in the temperature and strain rate range of 375-450°C and 0.001-1 s-1, respectively. The stress-strain behavior, microstructure evolution and processing parameters optimization were studied carefully. Micro-structural characterization studies conducted on a series of deformed samples using optical microscopy revealed that during hot deformation, the main restoration mechanism was dynamic recrystallization (DRX). Results: In the final microstructure of the material, grain boundaries were thoroughly covered by layers of fine DRXed grains. Moreover, a strong twinning induced necklace structure was the most significant characteristic at high strain rates which was accompanied by smaller grain size in the domain material. Based on the measured stress-strain data, constitutive model was conducted on two regimes of low and high temperatures. Moreover, the processing map of the studied material was obtained and interpreted using dynamic material model (DMM). Conclusion: The processing map was built and divided into a feasible domain at high temperatures in the whole range of strain rates and two separated instable domains in the temperature range of 375 to 435°C at high and low strain rates of 1 and 0.001 s-1.