Influence of rolling route on microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy during asymmetric reduction rolling

Abstract

Abstract Four different routes of asymmetric reduction rolling were conducted on AZ31 magnesium alloy to investigate their effect on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties. Route A is the forward rolling; while during routes B and C the sheets are rotated 180° in rolling direction and normal direction, respectively; route D is the unidirectional rolling. The strain states of rolled sheets were analyzed by the finite element method, while the microstructure and texture were observed using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron back-scattered diffraction techniques, and the mechanical properties were measured by tensile test. The results show that route D produced the largest effective strain. Compared with other samples, sample D exhibited a homogeneous microstructure with fine grains as well as a weak and tilted texture, in corresponding, it performed excellent tensile properties, which suggested that route D was an effective way to enhance the strength and plasticity of AZ31 sheet.