Property and microstructure analysis of ZK60 alloy superplastic sheet

It was investigated that the superplastic mechanical properties of fine-grained ZK60 magnesium alloy sheets at the temperature range of 200—420 ℃ and strain rate range of 5.56 × 10-4 —5.56 ×10-2 s-1 by tensile tests.And the microstructure evolution during the superplastic deformation of ZK60 magnesium alloy was examined by metallurgical microscope and transmission electronic microscope (TEM).The results showed that fine-grained ZK60 magnesium alloy starts to exhibit superplasticity from 250 ℃ and the maximum elongation is about 1106% at 400 ℃ and 5.56 × 10-4 s-1.The strain rate sensitivity is significantly enhanced with the increase of temperature and with the decrease of strain rate.The predominate superplastic mechanism of ZK60 magnesium alloy is grain boundary slide (GBS) at the temperature range of 300—400 ℃.The grains of ZK60 alloy remain equaxial after superplastic deformation,and dynamic continuous recrystallization (DCRX) is an important softening mechanism and grain stability mechanism during the superplastic deformation of the alloy.The curved grain boundaries and crumpled bands at grain boundaries after deformation prove GBS generates during superplastic deformation of ZK60 magnesium alloy.