Magnesium alloys are highly strain rate sensitive and exhibit good workability in a narrow forging temperature range. Consequently, parts made of these materials are usually forged with low-speed hydraulic presses, using specially designed tool heating systems in order to ensure near-isothermal conditions. This study investigates whether popular magnesium alloys such as Mg-Al-Zn can be forged in forging machines equipped with high-speed forming tools. Experimental upset forging tests on AZ31B, AZ61A and AZ80A specimens were conducted, using a screw press with a ram speed of 0.5 m/s and a die forging hammer with a ram speed at stroke of about 5 m/s. Test specimens were preheated to 350 °C, 410 °C and 450 °C. After the upset forging process, they were air- or water-cooled and then examined for their workability, hardness and grain size. To validate the results, a forging process for a producing handle was designed and modelled by the finite element method. Distributions of strain, temperature and fracture criterion were analysed, and energy and force parameters of the forging process were calculated. After that, experimental tests were performed on AZ31B and AZ61A specimens in order to determine mechanical properties of forged parts and examine their micro- and macrostructure. Results have demonstrated that AZ80A is not suitable for forging with either the screw press or the die forging hammer, that AZ61A can be press- and hammer-forged but to a limited extent, and that AZ31B can be subjected to forging in both forging machines analysed in the study.
Keywords: die forging; grain size; hammer; magnesium alloys; mechanical properties; screw press.