Hot Deformation Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg-Zn-Nd-Cd-Zr Alloy

Abstract

Hot compression tests of the homogenized Mg-Zn-Nd-Cd-Zr magnesium alloy were performed on Gleeble-1500 at temperatures between 300 °Cand 420 °C and at strain rates ranging from 0.001 to 1 s-1 with maximum strain of 0.8. The microstructure of the experimental alloy in the hot-compression procedure at elevated temperatures was observed by OM (optical microscope) and TEM (transmission electron microscope). The results provide the experimental basis for selecting hot wrought conditions of the alloy. The peak flow stress becomes larger with the increasing strain rate at constant temperature, and gets smaller with the increasing deformation temperature at constant strain rate. The deformation activation energy increases greatly in the range of higher than 420°C, and no more change in the range of 340-380°C. The alloy can be extruded successfully at 360°C with of δb 310 Mpa, δ2 of 290Mpa, and δof 16%。