Temperature and Strain Rate Dependence of Deformation Microstructures of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy under Uniaxial Tension

Abstract

The tensile deformation microstructures of an extruded AZ31 Mg alloy were examined at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 250°C over a strain rate range from 10-4 s-1 to 10-2 s-1. It is found that the strain rate has an enhanced effect on the tensile flow behavior of AZ31 Mg alloy with increasing temperature, which is closely related to the changes of deformation microstructures. The tensile deformation of AZ31 Mg alloy is mainly accommodated by twinning and slipping at room temperature and 100°C, and the amount of deformation twins reduces with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate. However, discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DRX) occurs primarily at grain boundaries, and nearly no deformation twins form, as the temperature is as high as 250°C. With decreasing strain rate, more significant DRX takes place with an increasing DRX grain size. The tensile deformation of AZ31 Mg alloy at 250°C is thus primarily controlled by slipping and DRX.