Low Temperature Superplasticity in Ultrafine-Grained AZ31 Alloy

Abstract

The mechanical behavior of an AZ31 magnesium alloy processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) was evaluated by tensile testing from room temperature up to 473 K at strain rates between 10-5 – 10-2 s-1. Samples tested at room temperature and at high strain rates at 373 K failed without any plastic deformation. However, significant ductility, with elongations larger than 200%, was observed at 423 K and 473 K and at low strain rates at 373 K. The high elongations are attributed to a pronounced strain hardening and a high strain rate sensitivity. The results agree with reports for a similar alloy processed by severe plastic deformation. However, the level of flow stress is lower and the strain rate sensitivity and the elongations are larger than observed in this alloy processed by conventional thermo-mechanical processing.