Investigation into the hot workability of the as-extruded WE43 magnesium alloy using processing map

Abstract

The research concerned the characterization of the hot-working behavior of the as-extruded WE43 magnesium alloy potentially for biomedical applications and the construction of processing maps to guide the choice of forming process parameters. Isothermal uniaxial compression tests were performed over a temperature range of 350-480°C and strain rate range of 0.001-10s(-1). Flow stresses obtained were used to construct processing maps. Domains in processing maps corresponding to relevant deformation mechanisms, i.e., dynamic recrystallization (DRX), dynamic recovery (DRV) and flow instability, were identified, according to power dissipation efficiency and flow instability parameter values. Microstructures of compression-tested specimens were examined to validate these deformation mechanisms. Two mechanisms of DRX nucleation, i.e., particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN) and grain boundary bulging, were found to be operative at the low-temperature and high-temperature DRX domains, respectively. Flow instability was related to adiabatic shear bands and abnormal grain growth. An optimum condition for the hot working of this alloy was determined to be at a temperature of 475°C and a strain rate of 0.1s(-1).

Keywords: Dynamic recovery; Dynamic recrystallization; Flow instability; Magnesium alloy; Processing map.