Influence of Aluminum Content on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Hot Deformation Behavior of Mg-Al-Zn Alloys

Abstract

This study compares AZ91 with AZ31 to investigate the influence of a higher Al content on the resulting microstructure, mechanical properties, and hot deformation behavior. While AZ31 exhibits a globular structure after casting, AZ91 shows a fully developed dendritic structure due to the promotion of dendrites. A heat treatment helped to homogenize AZ31, dissolved a large part of the Mg-Al precipitations in AZ91, and formed globular grains in AZ91. Due to the impact of Al on constitutional supercooling, AZ91 exhibits smaller grains than AZ31. Because of the strengthening of the solid solution, AZ91 also exhibits higher strength and hardness compared to AZ31. Cylindric compression tests of the heat-treated samples were conducted at different temperatures (300–400 °C) and strain rates (0.1 × 10 s−1). The main dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanisms in AZ31 and AZ91 are twinning-induced DRX and discontinuous DRX. It was detected that Mg17Al12 precipitates at the grain boundaries in AZ91, which influences the grain size through pinning. Similar results could be conducted in rolling trials. Although both alloys have similar grain sizes after rolling, AZ91 exhibits higher strengths, while AZ31 shows higher ductility. This can be explained by the solid solution strengthening in AZ91 and less brittle Mg17Al12 precipitations in AZ31.

Twin-Roll Casting as a Grain Refinement Method and Its Influence on the Microstructure and Deformation Behavior of an AZ31 Magnesium Alloy Wire

“…The calculated activation energies are 140 kJ/mol (AZ31 DC) and 146 kJ/mol (AZ31 TRC) [42]. Both calculated activation energies are in a common range for the AZ31 alloys during hot deformation [49,50].…”

“…As the values for AZ31 DC and AZ31 TRC correspond to 7.965 resp. 5.520, it is concluded that the dislocation climb creep is a dominant mechanism present in both alloys [42].…”

“…K)), and σ max are the peak stresses. In the case of AZ31 DC and AZ31 TRC, the following results can be presented [42]:…”