Hot deformation constitutive analysis and processing maps of the as-cast and wrought Mg–2.5Gd–0.5Zr alloy

Abstract

Hot deformation behavior and constitutive analysis of the as-cast and extruded Mg–2.5Gd–0.5Zr alloy were compared, using the shear punch testing (SPT) method in the temperature range of 623–723 K and shear strain rate range of 2.8 × 10–3–2.2 × 10–2 s–1. The respective hyperbolic-sine exponents of 2.67 and 2.59 as well as activation energies of 183 and 275 kJ mol–1 obtained for the as-cast and extruded alloy suggested grain boundary sliding as the prevailing deformation mechanism. Surprisingly, regardless of the instability domains, the efficiency of power dissipation exceeded 30% in most areas in the processing maps of both cast and wrought conditions. The safe and instability domains were rather similar in both processing maps. The relatively high potential of the as-cast alloy for hot deformation, despite its initial coarse grain size of about 150 µm, can be ascribed to the severe dynamic recrystallization (DRX) during hot deformation caused by Zr. This could be economically advantageous, as there would be no need for homogenization of the as-cast material before deformation processing. The most noticeable optimum window occurred in the temperature range of 673–723 K for both as-cast and extruded conditions with a vaster strain-rate range for the extruded one (5.6 × 10–3–1.4 × 10–2 s–1), owing to its initial finer grain size. The instability domains, however, took place for both conditions in the temperature range of 648–673 K and strain rates of about 5.6 × 10–3 s–1, manifested by cracking in the deformed zone, and also at temperatures higher than 673 K and medium to high strain rates.