Microstructure Evolutions during the Hot Extrusion Process of AZ 31B Magnesium Alloy

The hot bulk deformation processes (such as extrusion, forging and rolling) are efficient ways to produce fine microstmcture. The effects of extrusion parameters on the evolved microstructure of directly extruded AZ 31B magnesium alloy were investigated. Extrusion processes were carried out at five different combinations with ram speed ranging from 2 to 8 mm·s-1 and billet temperature ranging from 350 to 450 ℃. The experimental results show that the peak extrusion force decreases with increase in billet temperature and decreases in ram speed. During all the extrusion the profile temperature and die temperature rise continuously. Small particles of secondary phase (β-Mg17A112) are uniformly distributed near the edge of the extruded profiles whereas their distribution is nonuniform in the centre of the extrudates. The size of secondary phase particles present in the central region of the specimens was found to increase with billet temperature and extrusion speed. All the specimens showed mixed microstructure-In the central region of the specimen, low volume fraction of dynamically recrystallized fine grains presented at the grain boundaries of original coarse grains; but near the edge region, the microstructure consisted nearly equiaxed free reerystallized grains.