The influence of initial microstructure and temperature on the deformation behavior of AZ91 magnesium alloy

The deformation behavior of AZ91 magnesium alloy has been investigated using uniaxial compression tests at a temperature range of 100–300 °C. The different processing routes including homogenization treatment, hot rolling and annealing have been employed to study the effect of initial microstructure on the compressive mechanical response of the AZ91 alloy. The results show that the hot-rolled material presents an enhanced compressive workability at temperatures as low as 100 °C. The experimental alloy exhibit dynamic recrystallization during compression in any of the initial microstructures. The maximum and minimum DRX (dynamic recrystallization) fraction has been obtained in hot-rolled and homogenized conditions, respectively. The recrystallized fraction increases with raising the temperature. In addition the effect of initial microstructure on the peak stress diminishes with increasing temperature while its effect on the peak strain remains remarkable. The softening fraction has been increased with temperature, where a pronounced effect has been recorded in the case of homogenized (un-rolled) material.     

Hot deformation behavior and processing map development of AZ110 alloy with and without addition of La-rich Mish Metal

In order to compare the workability of AZ110 alloy with and without addition of La-rich Mish Metal(MM), hot compression tests were performed on a Gleeble-3500 D thermo-mechanical simulator at the deformation temperature range of 473-623 K and strain rate range of 0.001-1 s-1. The flow stress, constitutive relation, DRX kinetic model, processing map and microstructure characterization of the alloys were investigated. The results show that the flow stress is very sensitive to deformation temperature and strain rate, and the peak stress of AZ110 LC(LC = La-rich MM) alloy is higher than that of AZ110 alloy.The hot deformation behavior of the alloys can be accurately predicted by the constitutive relations. The derived constitutive equations show that the calculated activation energy Q and stress exponent n for AZ110 alloy are higher than the calculated values of AZ110 LC alloy. The analysis of DRX kinetic models show that the development of DRX in AZ110 LC alloy is earlier than AZ110 alloy at the same deformation condition. The processing maps show that the workability of AZ110 LC alloy is significantly more excellent than AZ110 alloy and the microstructures are in good agreement with the calculated results.The AZ110 LC alloys can obtain complete DRX microstructure at high strain rate due to its higher stored energy and weak basal texture.     

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.     

Study on microstructure of squeeze casting AZ91D alloy

Abstract

The present paper reports the investigation of the microstructure distribution of squeeze cast AZ91D alloy. The microstructure of squeeze cast AZ91D alloy is not uniform and is composed of four zones, which are chilled layer, segregation zone, pressured crystallisation area and hot spot area respectively. Moreover, in the pressured crystallisation area, the microstructure sequence in the transverse section from the outside to the inside could be divided into four sublayers, such as fine equiaxial dendrite area, dendrite area with a high directivity, confusion dendrite area and disorder dendrite area. The volume fraction of the intermetallic compound Mg₁₇Al₁₂ also varied with the location. The volume fraction of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ in the pressured crystallisation area is the largest except in the segregated zone.     

Microstructure investigation and first-principle analysis of die-cast AZ91 alloy with calcium addition

In order to get improved mechanical properties of die-cast AZ91 alloy under elevated temperatures, Ca element was added as a cost-effective alloying constituent. It appeared that minor Ca addition less than 0.5 wt% would result in no apparent change in microstructure, but the tensile strength at elevated temperatures was improved considerably. When increasing Ca addition to more than 1.0 wt%, Al₂Ca phase will precipitate during solidification, no Mg₂Ca phase was discovered. Homogeneous microstructure and high temperature stability in tensile strength of die-cast AZ91 alloy with Ca addition was mainly attributed to the precipitation of Al₂Ca phase, which considerably refined the bulky β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase distributed originally at the grain boundaries of die-cast AZ91 alloy with no Ca addition. The priority of Al₂Ca phase compared to Mg₂Ca phase in precipitation sequence was verified by first-principle calculation of their cohesive energy and formation enthalpy, and can also be associated with more bounding electrons between Al and Ca atoms.     

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。     

Partial melting behavior and thixoforming properties of extruded magnesium alloy AZ91 with and without addition of SiC particles with a volume fraction of 15%

A series of reheating-isothermal holding experiments and compression tests were conducted on pristine magnesium alloy AZ91 extruded by equal channel angular extrusion(ECAE) and Si C particles(a volume fraction of 15%) reinforced AZ91 composite(AZ91-SiC_p) by regular extrusion. Dissolution of eutectic compounds and partial melting of the α-Mg matrix occurred during the reheating of these materials. Spherical semisolid slurries of these materials were obtained when the reheating temperature and isothermal holding time were 550?C and 20 s, respectively. The presence of SiC_p in AZ91-Si Cpnot only caused lower liquid fractions of semisolid slurries but also resulted in higher values of flow stress during semisolid compression tests. Both AZ91 alloy and AZ91-Si Cpcomposite exhibited better thixoforming properties at high temperatures. Segregation of Si Cpdid not occur during thixoforming of AZ91-Si Cpcomposite after an isothermal holding at semisolid temperatures for 20 s.     

半固态AZ91D镁合金的压缩变形和显微组织

利用平行板触变压缩仪研究了电磁搅拌的半固态AZ91D合金试样的压缩变形和组织.结果表明:随着半固态压缩变形温度的升高,AZ91D镁合金试样变形的速度加快,即变形应变速度增大,但压缩应力不断下降;在某一载荷下,AZ91D镁合金试样压缩变形应力和应变呈明显的线性关系,与压缩温度的高低无关.随着半固态压缩载荷的提高,AZ91D镁合金试样变形的速度增加,应变速度增大,应力下降速度加快;在不同的压缩载荷下,AZ91D镁合金试样的压缩变形应力和应变都呈明显的线性关系.在实验中的各种半固态压缩变形条件下,初生α-Mg在压缩后AZ91D镁合金试样组织中的分布很均匀,几乎不存在组织偏析.当初生固相的形态呈球状结构,在相同的变形条件下,不同种类合金的半固态压缩变形规律非常相似.     

Improvement in rollability of AZ91 magnesium alloy by carbon addition

The present study aims to investigate the effect of carbon addition on the hot rolling behavior of as-cast AZ91 alloy. The AZ91 and C-added AZ91 alloys were subjected to hot rolling at 400 °C with a reduction of 30% per one pass. The as-cast C-added AZ91 alloy with very fine equi-axed grains of approximately 75 μm exhibited excellent hot rollability compared to as-cast AZ91 alloy with coarse dendrite structure, although the final grain size of the rolled C-added AZ91 alloy sheet was slightly larger than that of the rolled AZ91 alloy sheet. The side-crack occurrence on the surface during hot-rolling is mainly affected by the existence of twin boundary and the area fraction of grain boundaries. Based on the results, the improvement in rollability of the C-added AZ91 alloy is attributed to fine equi-axed grains and the polygonal Al₈Mn₅ phase located inside grains, which can homogeneously distribute and effectively absorb strain energy and prohibit crack growth.     

Zirlo锆合金高温变形行为及本构关系EI北大核心CSCD

采用Gleeble-3800型热模拟试验机,对Zirlo合金进行等温恒应变速率压缩实验,研究其在变形温度550~700℃,应变速率0.01~10 s^(-1)范围内的热变形行为;并在Arrhenius型双曲正弦函数方程基础上引入应变量,构建了基于应变补偿的Arrhenius本构模型,同时构建了基于位错密度演化加工硬化模型和基于唯象型的软化模型的分段唯象型本构模型。结果表明:Zirlo合金的流变应力随着温度的降低和应变速率的提高而升高,低应变速率下流变应力呈现更高的温度敏感性,流变应力曲线在不同变形条件下分别呈现加工硬化、动态回复、动态再结晶特征。经过误差分析可知,基于应变补偿的Arrhenius本构模型大部分预测值的误差均在15%以内,具有较高的准确性,而分段唯象型本构模型相对平均绝对误差最大值不超过3%,具有97%以上的准确率,可以很好地预测合金的应力-应变曲线,具有良好的拓展性,并且可初步判断曲线类型,具有良好的实用性。     

Microstructure and mechanical behavior of die casting AZ91D-Fly ash cenosphere composites

The feasibility of incorporating fly ash cenospheres in die cast magnesium alloy has been demonstrated. The effects of fly ash cenosphere additions on the microstructure and some of the salient physical and mechanical properties of magnesium alloy (AZ91D) metal matrix composites were investigated. The control AZ91D alloy and associated composites, containing 5, 10, and 15 wt.% of fly ash cenospheres (added), were synthesized using a die casting technique. A microstructural comparison showed that microstructural refinement – occurred due to the fly ash additions and became more pronounced with an increase in the percentage of the fly ash added. The metal matrix areas nearer to the fly ash particles exhibited a greater degree of refinement than was observed in the areas further away from these particles. Both filled and unfilled fly ash cenospheres, and porosity were observed in the composite microstructures. The composite specimen densities decreased and the coefficient of thermal expansion did not change significantly as the volume percent of fly ash was increased within the range investigated. The hardness values of the composite specimens exhibited an increase in proportion to the increase in percentage of added fly ash. The tensile strength of the composites also increased as the concentration of fly ash cenospheres was increased. In contrast, the Young’s modulus of these composite samples, as measured by non-destructive pulse-echo method, decreased as the percentage of fly ash in the composite was increased. SEM micrographs of the tensile fracture surfaces showed broken cenospheres on the fracture surface and evidence of ‘pull outs’, where fly ash particles were previously embedded in the matrix. Compression testing results showed that the presence of 5 wt.% cenospheres decreased the compressive strength and compressive yield strength of the composite relative to that of the AZ91D matrix alloy. Surprisingly, a significant change in compression strength was not observed for the composites with 10 and 15 wt.% cenospheres in comparison to the AZ91D matrix alloy. In contrast to the tensile tests, no cenosphere remnants were observed on the compressive test fracture surface of the composites. This observation suggests that the fracture of the composite was initiated within the AZ91D matrix by normal void nucleation and growth, followed by crack propagation through the matrix, avoiding any of the cenospheres, leading to composite fracture of the matrix.     

Recrystallization mechanism of as-cast AZ91 magnesium alloy during hot compressive deformation

Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior of as-cast AZ91 magnesium alloy during hot compression at 300 °C and the strain rate of 0.2 s⁻¹ was systematically investigated by electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) analysis. Twin DRX and continuous DRX (CDRX) are observed in grains and near grain boundaries, respectively. Original coarse grains are firstly divided by primary {} tensile twins and {} compression twins, and then {}–{} double twins are rapidly propagated within these primary compression twins with increasing compressive strain. Some twin-walled grains are formed by the mutual crossing of twins or by the formation of the {}–{} double twins and furthermore, subgrains divided by low-grain boundaries in the double twins are also formed. Finally, DRXed grains are formed by the in situ evolution of the subgrains with the growth of low-angle boundaries to high-angle grain boundaries in twins. CDRX around the eutectic Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phases at grain boundaries occurs together with the precipitation of discontinuous Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase and the fragmentation of the precipitates during compression. The discontinuous fragmented precipitates distribute at the newly formed CDRXed grain boundaries and have remarkable pinning effect on the CDRXed grain growth, resulting in the average grain size of about 1.5 μm.     

Corrosion behavior of AZ91 magnesium alloy in dilute NaCl solutions

The corrosion behavior of AZ91 magnesium alloy in dilute NaCl solutions was studied using electrochemical measurements, whereby a corrosion map in terms of electrode potential and chloride concentration [Cl⁻] was obtained. AZ91 alloy exhibited the corrosion and passivation zones in dilute NaCl solutions. The passivation zone became narrow with increasing [Cl⁻]. The values of open-circuit potential were in the passivation zone when the [Cl⁻] was less than 0.5 mol/L. XRD patterns showed the presence of the Mg(OH)₂, Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂·8H₂O and MgO phases in the corrosion product, whereas the latter two phases found in the passive film.     

Effect of Sb addition on the tensile deformation behavior of lead-free Sn–3.5Ag solder alloy

Tensile deformation behavior of Sn–3.5Ag and Sn–3.5Ag–1.5Sb alloys was investigated at temperatures ranging from 298 to 400 K, and strain rates ranging from 5 × 10⁻⁴ to 1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹. After melting and casting, the samples were rolled to sheets, from which tensile specimens were punched and pulled to fracture in uniaxial tension tests. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the microstructure and fracture surface of the samples. Addition of 1.5% Sb into the binary alloy resulted in an increase in both ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and ductility. The enhanced strength was attributed to the solid solution hardening effects of Sb in the Sn matrix. The improved ductility was, however, caused by the structural refinement which results in the higher strain rate hardening of the Sb-containing alloy. This was manifested by the higher strain rate sensitivity (SRS) indices (m) of 0.14–0.27, as compared to 0.11–0.20 found for the Sn–3.5Ag alloy.     

Numerical and experimental investigation of the deformation behavior during the accumulative back extrusion of an AZ91 magnesium alloy

In the present study, the finite element method (FEM) and an experimental investigation were performed during the accumulative back extrusion (ABE) processing of an AZ91 magnesium alloy in order to investigate the effects of the deformation ratio (= inner punch diameter/outer punch diameter) and die stroke (DS) on the plastic deformation behavior. The results showed that increasing the deformation ratio and DS led to better deformation homogeneity and more plastic strains. There are two distinct regions in the ABE processed samples containing low and high plastic strain areas and the metallurgical investigations showed that more grain refinement with a mean grain size of 1.5 μm takes place in high strain regions while the grain sizes are larger in other regions. A comparison between the FEM and experimental results of the required loads and developed microstructures showed good agreement.     

Fatigue fracture toughness of AZ91D alloy at ambient temperature

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

SiCp/AZ91D镁基纳米复合材料的室温拉伸行为及塑性变形机理

为得到高强度和高塑性的镁基复合材料,通过高能超声分散法和金属型重力铸造工艺制备了SiC纳米颗粒分散均匀的SiCp/AZ91D镁基纳米复合材料,并进行T4固溶热处理和室温拉伸。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)对试样拉伸后的显微组织和塑性变形机理进行观察与研究。结果表明:T4态SiCp/AZ91D镁基纳米复合材料室温下抗拉强度达到296 MPa,伸长率达到17.3%。经室温拉伸变形后复合材料基体微观组织中出现了大量的孪晶和滑移,孪生和滑移是复合材料塑形变形的主要机制。在室温拉伸过程中,α-Mg基体中SiC纳米颗粒周围形成高应变场,高应变场内形成大量位错和堆垛层错,这些位错和堆垛层错在拉伸应变的作用下演变成大量的滑移带和孪晶,这是SiCp/AZ91D镁基纳米复合材料在室温下具有高塑性的微观塑性变形机理。     

基于搅拌摩擦焊驱动模式分析压铸态AZ91D镁合金接头隧道状缺陷形成原因

采用不同焊接规范对压铸态AZ91D镁合金进行搅拌摩擦焊连接,并采用光学显微镜、扫描电镜等方式对焊缝接头微观形貌进行研究。结果表明,焊接速率高于60mm/min时,焊缝中均产生贯穿型隧道状缺陷,缺陷位于焊缝前进侧冠状区与环形区交界处;随着焊接速率的增大,缺陷有逐渐向焊缝底部延伸的趋势。分析认为该缺陷的形成机理如下:冠状区塑性材料同时受到搅拌针和轴肩共同作用,环形区塑性材料主要受到搅拌针作用,致使环形区与冠状区结合处呈现出流动差异性,导致在前进侧产生隧道状缺陷。     

An investigation on hot-crack mechanism of Ca addition into AZ91D alloy

In automotive components, there is a significant weight saving potential in converting to magnesium alloys. Adding Ca element is one of the most effective ways to improve the temperature and mechanical properties of magnesium alloy. However, as hot-cracks often appear in such materials, Ca addition will thus encumber the development of this magnesium alloy. There are few reports on the hot-crack mechanism of magnesium alloy with Ca. This paper focused on the investigations as why to results in the hot-crack phenomenon of Ca addition. These results indicated that Ca addition affects the solidification process of AZ91D alloy, such as elevating the tendency of divorce eutectic and forming the new temperature of Al₂Ca phase. In addition, the Ca-contained phase distributed as the net-shape forms on grain boundary and results in lower boundary strength of the liquid film. Both of the above reasons would deteriorate filling capacity of the melt and the hot-crack resistance during solidification stage, resulting in the worst hot-crack property of this alloy.