Comparison of superplastic forming abilities of as‐cast AZ91 magnesium alloy prepared by twin roll casting and WE43 magnesium alloy

This paper describes and compares the superplastic behaviour and microstructural evolution of twin roll cast AZ91 and WE43 rolled sheet alloys. Tests were carried out in uniaxial tension on both alloys across a range of temperatures (300 °C–525 °C) and strain rates (1?10^‐4 s^‐1–1?10^‐1 s^‐1). In the case of WE43 gas bulge testing was employed at 400 °C and 0.6 MPa to offer a better analogy to superplastic forming than uniaxial tensile testing. Elongations of over 400 % were observed within WE43 when tested at 450 °C and 1?10^‐3 s^‐1 strain rate, and over 200 % within AZ91 when tested at 350 °C and 1?10^‐3 s^‐1 strain rate. A peak cone height of 41 mm was achieved with WE43 at a temperature of 400 °C and pressure of 0.6 MPa. Electron back scattered detection technique was employed to analyse the microstructural evolution of the two alloys during the forming process. Both WE43 and AZ91 were observed to undergo dynamic recrystallization during elevated temperature tensile testing and failed at low strain rates mainly by means of coalescence of cavitation, in the case of AZ91 at high strain rates cracking of Al₁₂Mg₁₇ intermetallic particles was the dominating failure mechanism. Both alloys were seen to achieve good levels of superplastic ductility over 200 % elongation, which would be industrially useful in niche vehicle and aerospace manufacturing.     

Superplastic behavior and microstructural stability of friction stir processed AZ91C alloy

Superplastic behavior of a solution treated and friction stir processed (FSP) AZ91C alloy is studied. These studies are conducted in the temperature range of 300–375 °C and strain rates (SRs) in the range of 1 × 10^?4–3 × 10^?3 s^?1. Microstructural stability of the FSP alloy is also studied in comparison to the AZ31, AZ61, and AZ91 alloys processed by various routes. High SR sensitivity in the range of 0.33–0.39 and grain size stability till 350 °C is observed for the FSP alloy. The FSP AZ91C alloy showed better thermal stability in comparison to AZ31 and AZ61 alloys. Kinetics of superplastic deformation of the FSP alloy is found to be slower as compared to AZ31 and AZ61 alloys processed by various routes, which is due to the presence of significant amount of second phase precipitates, such as, β-Mg₁₇(Al,Zn)₁₂, Mg₂Si, and Al₈Mn₅ in the FSP alloy. However, these precipitates contributed for better thermal stability of the microstructure of FSP AZ91C alloy.     

异步轧制AZ31镁合金板材的超塑性工艺及变形机制

经过异步轧制工艺获得AZ31镁合金薄板。在300~450℃范围内,分别通过5×10-3,1×10-3s-1和5×10-4s-1不同应变速率进行高温拉伸实验研究其超塑性变形行为,计算应变速率敏感指数m值、超塑性变形激活能Q及门槛应力σ0值。通过EBSD分析和扫描电镜观察拉伸断裂后的断口形貌,分析AZ31镁合金的超塑性变形机制。结果表明:AZ31镁合金的塑性变形能力随着变形温度的升高及应变速率的降低而增强。当拉伸温度为400℃、m=0.72、应变速率为5×10-4s-1时,AZ31具有良好的超塑性,伸长率最大为206%。温度为400℃时,异步轧制AZ31镁合金的超塑性变形是以晶格扩散控制的晶界滑移和基面滑移共同完成的。     

Superplastic Property of the Ti–6Al–4V Alloy with Ultrafine‐Grained Heterogeneous Microstructure

Ti–6Al–4V alloy having a heterogeneous microstructure composed of ultrafine‐equiaxed‐α‐grains and fine‐lamellar‐α‐grains is investigated for microstructural changes during superplastic deformation at temperature of 700 °C. The Ti–6Al–4V alloy having an optimum fraction of fine‐lamellar‐α‐grains exhibits an excellent superplastic property and the highest elongation of 583% (tested at 700 °C 10^?3 s^?1). This is mainly due to the optimized activation of grain‐boundary‐sliding and additional accommodation mechanism associated with frequent occurrences of dynamic recrystallization and β precipitation at boundaries during deformation of the heterogeneous starting microstructure. The present result suggests the possibility that optimizing the starting microstructure so as to have an optimum heterogeneous‐microstructure serves as an additional stress accommodation mechanism and leads to a large superplastic elongation.

     

Ermüdungslebensdauer der Magnesiumlegierung AZ91: Experiment und Modellierung

Fatigue Life of the Die‐Cast Magnesium Alloy AZ91: Experiments and Modelling The cyclic deformation behaviour of the die‐cast magnesium alloy AZ91HP was investigated under total strain control at constant total strain amplitudes between 1.4 × 10⁻³ to 2 × 10⁻² at room temperature and at 130°C. Microstructural investigations in combination with the determination of crack‐growth behaviour using the replica technique and measurements of changes of the stiffness (compliance) of the specimen during a fatigue experiment led to a detailed understanding of the evolution of damage and the main damage mechanisms. Based on these findings, a microstructurally based life‐prediction concept was formulated.     

Zur thermischen Ermüdung der Magnesium‐Basislegierung AZ91

Thermal fatigue of magnesium‐base alloy AZ91 Thermal fatigue tests of the magnesium‐base alloy AZ91 were carried out under total strain control and out‐of‐phase‐loading conditions in a temperature range between ‐50°C and +190°C. Specimens produced by a vacuum die casting process were loaded under constant total strain and uniaxial homogeneous stress. To simulate the influence of different mean stresses, experiments were started at different temperature levels, e.g. the lower, mean or upper temperature of the thermal cycle. The thermal fatigue behavior is described by the resulting stress amplitudes, plastic strain amplitudes and mean stresses as a function of the number of thermal loading cycles. Depending on the maximum temperature and the number of loading cycles, cyclic softening as well as cyclic hardening behavior is observed. Due to the complex interaction of deformation, recovery and recrystallization processes and as a consequence of the individual temperature and deformation history, thermal fatigue processes of the material investigated cannot be assessed using results of isothermal experiments alone. The upper temperatures or the resp. temperature amplitudes determine the total fatigue lifetime.     

Hot deformation behavior of SiCp/AZ91 magnesium matrix composite fabricated by stir casting

The uniaxial compressive deformation behavior of a 10 vol.% SiC particulate reinforced AZ91 magnesium matrix composite (SiCp/AZ91) fabricated by stir casting is investigated at elevated temperature (250–400 °C). Peak stresses and flow stresses decrease as temperatures increase and strain rates decrease. The extent of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) becomes less as temperatures decrease at 250–350 °C or strain rates increase, and recrystallization occurs mainly within the intergranular regions rich of particles. Dynamic recrystallization accomplishes at 400 °C even at the strain rate of 1 s⁻¹. An analysis of the effective stress dependence on strain rate and temperature gives a stress exponent of n = 5 and a true activation energy of Q = 99 kJ/kJ. The value of Q is close to the value for grain boundary diffusion in Mg. It is concluded that the deformation mechanism of SiCp/AZ91 composite during hot compression is controlled by the dislocation climb.     

漂珠/AZ91D镁合金复合材料的高温压缩变形行为

采用搅拌铸造法制备了漂珠(FAC)/AZ91D镁合金复合材料。研究了该复合材料的高温压缩变形行为,分析了压缩变形温度和应变率对FAC/AZ91D镁合金复合材料压缩变形行为的影响规律,并计算了其热变形激活能。结果表明:FAC/AZ91D镁合金复合材料的高温压缩真应力-真应变曲线分为4个阶段:弹性变形、加工硬化、峰值应力和稳态流变阶段。相同应变率下,FAC/AZ91D镁合金复合材料的峰值应力和稳态流变应力随压缩变形温度的升高而降低;相同压缩变形温度下,流变应力随应变率增大而升高。在相同应变率或相同压缩变形温度下,FAC/AZ91D镁合金复合材料的热变形激活能随压缩应变率或压缩变形温度的升高而增大,其热压缩行为可以用双曲正弦函数形式的Arrhenius关系来描述。压缩变形温度与应变率对FAC/AZ91D镁合金复合材料的高温压缩组织均有重要影响。提高压缩变形温度或增大应变率,均可加速动态再结晶的进程。     

Cyclic deformation behaviour and fatigue crack propagation in AZ91HP and AM50HP

Abstract

The purpose of the present work was to investigate room temperature cyclic deformation and crack propagation behaviour in the most widely used die casting magnesium alloy AZ91HP with different heat treatments. In addition, examination of the low cycle fatigue properties of solid solution treated alloy AZ91HP-T4 was emphasised in comparison with AM50HP. Obvious cyclic strain hardening was found in low cycle fatigue tests, especially for AZ91HP-T4 at high cyclic strain amplitudes. Nevertheless, it was very difficult to evaluate differences in low cycle fatigue behaviour between die casting alloy AZ91HP-F, artificially aged alloy AZ91HP-T6, solution treated alloy AZ91HP-T4, and AM50HP(-F) because of the scatter of test data. However, it may be concluded that the last two alloys had greater plastic strain components during cyclic deformation, and AZ91HP-T4 exhibited a longer fatigue life than that of AM50HP at the highest strain amplitude. According to results of tests carried out on AZ91HP compact tension (CT) specimens, it was concluded that solution treatment could reduce the fatigue crack propagation rate, and plasticity induced crack closure was considered to have a predominant effect on fatigue crack propagation.     

The study of the technology parameters on the superplasticity of the new Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Ni–Zr base alloy

Al–Zn–Mg–Cu aluminum alloy contain 0.3% Zr and 4% Ni was processed by traditional hot and cold rolling with a total reduction from 0  to  80%. The relationship between superplastic behavior and reduction of cold deformation and casting cooling rate was analyzed. It is shown that the decrease in the reduction of cold rolling do not significantly influence on flow stress and elongation. Decrease in casting cooling rate leads to insignificantly decrease in superplastic indicators. Alloy exhibits advanced superplasticity: the elongation of 400–800% at the strain rates of (5 × 10^–3–1 × 10^–1) s^–1.     

High temperature deformation behavior of permanent casting AZ91 alloy with and without Sb addition

The elevated temperature deformation behavior of permanent cast magnesium alloy AZ91 with and without Sb addition has been investigated using slow strain rate (5.0 × 10^–4s^–1) elevated temperature tensile and constant load creep testing at 150°C and 50 MPa. The alloy with 0.4 wt% Sb showed a higher elevated temperature tensile strength and creep resistance due to the formation of thermal stable Mg₃Sb₂ precipitates and a smaller microstructure as well as the suppressing of the discontinuous precipitation. Plastic deformation of AZ91 based alloys is determined by motion of dislocation in basal plane and non-basal slip systems. The dislocation motion in a slip system is influenced by temperature, precipitates and other lattice defects. Dislocations jog, grain boundaries and/or precipitates are considered as obstacles for moving dislocations. The deformation twinning were founded in the creep process by TEM. Cross slip of dislocations was taken into account as the main softening mechanism for permanent cast AZ91 alloy during elevated temperature deformation process.     

AZ61镁合金薄板超塑性变形特征的SEM研究

利用扫描电镜(SEM)和超塑性拉伸实验对一次热挤压加工成型的AZ61镁合金薄板(晶粒尺寸～12μm)超塑性变形特征进行了研究.结果显示,在最佳的变形温度(623K)和应变速率(1×10-4s-1)条件下,可获得的最大的超塑性形变量为920%.在523～673 K实验温度和1×10-2～1×10-5s-1应变速率范围内,材料的应变速率敏感指数(m值)随实验温度升高和应变速率的降低而增加.较高的m值(0.42～0.46)对应于晶界滑动机制(GBS),而较低的m值(0.22～0.25)则对应于位错滑移机制.变形温度和应变速率是影响超塑性变形量和变量机制的主要因素.     

The modified temperature term on Johnson Cook model for AZ31 magnesium alloy

The quasi‐state and dynamic mechanism of AZ31 magnesium alloy at a strain rates range of 0.001 s^‐1–2500 s^‐1 under a temperature range of 20 °C–250 °C were researched by compression tests using the electronic universal testing machine and split Hopkinson pressure bar system. The true stress‐strain curves at different strain rates and evaluated temperatures were obtained. The result shows that the thermal soften effect of AZ31 magnesium alloy is significant. By modifying the temperature term of the original Johnson Cook model of AZ31 magnesium alloy, a modified Johnson Cook model of AZ31 magnesium alloy has been proposed to reveal thermal soften effect on the deformation behavior of AZ31 magnesium alloy more precisely. With the modified Johnson Cook model and fracture model, the finite element method simulation of AZ31 magnesium alloy hat shaped specimen under impacting was conducted. The numerical simulation result is consistent with the experimental result, which indicates that the modified Johnson Cook model and fracture model are greatly valid to predict the deformation and fracture behavior of the AZ31 magnesium alloy hat shaped specimen under impacting.     

Superplasticity in a 7055 aluminum alloy subjected to intense plastic deformation

Abstract

Superplasticity in a 7055 aluminum alloy subjected to intense plastic straining through equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) was studied in tension over a range of strain rates from 1.4 × 10^-5 to 5.6 × 10^-2 s^-1 in the temperature interval 300 - 450 °C. The alloy had a grain size of ~ 1 μm. A maximum elongation to failure of ~750% occurred at a temperature of 425 °C and an initial strain rate of 5.6 × 10^-4 s^-1, with a strain rate sensitivity coefficient m of about 0.46. The highest m value was ~0.5 at a strain rate of 1.4 × 10^-3 s^-1 and T≥ 425 °C. Moderate superplastic properties with a total elongation of about 435% and m of ~0.4 were recorded in the temperature interval 350 - 400 °C; no cavitation was found. It was shown that the main feature of superplastic behaviour of the ECAE processed 7055 aluminum alloy is a low yield stress and strong strain hardening during the initial stages of superplastic deformation. Comparing the present results with the superplastic behaviour of the 7055 Al subjected to thermomechanical processing (TMP), the highest tensile elongation in the ECAE processed material occurred at lower temperatures because ECAE produces a finer grained structure.     

Fatigue lifetime of AZ91 magnesium alloy subjected to cyclic thermal and mechanical loadings

In the present paper, thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) and low cycle fatigue (LCF) or isothermal fatigue (IF) lifetimes of a cast magnesium alloy (the AZ91 alloy) were studied. In addition to a heat treatment process (T6), several rare elements were added to the alloy to improve the material strength in the first step. Then, the cyclic behavior of the AZ91 was investigated. For this objective, strain-controlled tension–compression fatigue tests were carried out. The temperature varied between 50 and 200 °C in the out-of-phase (OP) TMF tests. The constraint factor which was defined as the ratio of the mechanical strain to the thermal strain, was set to 75%, 100% and 125%. For LCF tests, mechanical strain amplitudes of 0.20%, 0.25% and 0.30% were considered at constant temperatures of 25 and 200 °C. Experimental fatigue results showed that the cyclic hardening behavior occurred at the room temperature in the AZ91 alloy. At higher temperatures, this alloy had a brittle fracture. But also, it was not significantly clear that the cyclic hardening or the cyclic softening behavior would be occurred in the material. Then, the high temperature LCF lifetime was more than that at the room temperature. The OP-TMF lifetime was the least value in comparison to that of LCF tests. At the end of this article, two energy-based models were applied to predict the fatigue lifetime of this magnesium alloy.     

Superplasticity Enhanced by Two-stage Deformation in a Hot-extruded AZ61 Magnesium Alloy

A two-stage strain rate deformation method is proposed to enhance the superplasticity in a hot extruded AZ61 alloy. In the stage-one of deformation, a relatively high strain rate was applied in order to obtain fine grains through dynamic recrystallization. The optimum strain rate for DRX at 300℃ was identified as -5×10-3s-1. Stage-two is conducted at relatively low strain rate in order to utilize the fine grains refined by DRX during stage-one to make the grain boundary sliding operate more smoothly, which resulting in enhanced superplastic elongation from 350% to 440%.     

Characterization of the fatigue behaviour of the magnesium alloy AZ91D by means of mechanical hysteresis and temperature measurements

Stress-controlled load increase and constant amplitude tests were performed on the cast magnesium alloy AZ91D. Rather small values of the plastic strain amplitude reflect the very localised plastic deformation predominant in the _I-phase. The cyclic deformation and temperature curves of the load increase tests exhibit cyclic yield strength values which allow a good estimation of the endurance limit. Stress amplitudes above the endurance limit lead to cyclic hardening. As compared to the behaviour under monotonic tensile loading, the alloy exhibits cyclic hardening. Microscopic investigations illustrate the different influences of the - and β-phase in respect to crack initiation.     

Anisotropy of low temperature superplasticity of fine grained magnesium alloy AZ31 processed by multidirectional forging

Abstract

Effect of texture anisotropy of Mg alloy AZ31, processed by multidirectional forging, on low temperature superplasticity was studied in tension at 423 and 473 K. Multidirectional forging was carried out up to large cumulative strain of 4·8 with changing loading direction from pass to pass under decreasing temperature conditions. When the basal plane in initial texture is inclined at ～45° against tensile direction, rotation of basal plane towards tensile direction takes place accompanying with basal slip and grain coarsening or refinement, leading to the highest elongation to failure of 320%. This suggests that superplastic deformation can be controlled by grain boundary sliding accompanied with grain size changes taking place due to continuous dynamic recrystallisation.     

Effect of two step strain rate on superplastic behaviour of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloy 7010 containing Sc

Abstract

A suitable thermomechanical process, different from the Rockwell route, before the superplastic deformation together with the utilisation of a ‘two step strain rate’ during the superplastic deformation has been employed to evaluate the total percentage elongation in a high strength Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloy containing Sc. It is shown that the utilisation of a two step strain rate under appropriate combinations of temperature and strain rate results in superior values of elongations.     

T4 热处理对石膏型 AZ91 铸造镁合金组织和性能的影响

用石膏型熔模铸造技术,成功制备了AZ91镁合金铸件.用金相显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)、能谱(EDS)以及电子万能实验机等,研究了AZ91镁合金铸态及T4热处理态的显微组织演变和力学性能.结果表明,分布在铸态AZ91镁合金晶界的网状β-Mg17Al12相在T4热处理过程中逐渐溶解,铸态和T4热处理态中均存在大量的A18Mn5化合物,T4处理后,其力学性能显著提高.