Comparative Study Of High Temperature Workability OF ZM21 And AZ31 Magnesium Alloys

Abstract

High temperature regime, 300-450?C for Mg-Al-Zn alloys, is currently used in primary processing, such as rolling and extrusion, as well as for secondary operation like forging. The knowledge of temperature and strain rate proper combination (processing window) as well as the microstructure evolution occurring during hot deformation clarifies the relationships between forming variables and final properties of components. Numerous data on AZ31 and few other Mg-Al alloys, produced by laboratory testing, are available in the scientific and technical literature. The ZM21, Mg-2Zn-1Mn, by contrast, is characterized by absolute lack of scientific data. In the alloy the addition of manganese, by suppressing the formation of beta phase, increases the solidus temperature that results in the larger processing window than in AZ31. The benefit requires extensive analysis aimed at optimizing the deformation variables that affect the microstructure refinement under dynamic and static recrystallization. The high-temperature plastic deformation and the microstructure evolution of the ZM21 were thus investigated in the temperature range between 200 and 500?C and results were analysed and compared with those of a conventional heat-treated AZ31.