Effect of Solid Die Equi-Channel Pressing Angle on β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ Phase Morphology and Mechanical Behavior of AZ80 Mg alloy

The effects of die channel angle (Φ) in hot (~623 K) equi-channel angular pressing (ECAP) on microstructure, and tensile and compressive flow properties of AZ80 Mg alloy were investigated. Two solid ECAP dies, having Φ of (1) dual 60° and 120° in a single die and (2) 90° in another die, were designed for this purpose. Grain refinement with more than 40% reduction in average grain size along with submicron size second-phase β-precipitates was achieved after single-pass ECAP. A great variation in β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase morphology with increasing flow stresses in tension and compression are found with decreasing value of angle Φ. There found an increasing effect on strain to failure with decrease in porosity and second-phase precipitate modification. However, there appears flow asymmetry between tension and compression with the latter exhibiting greater flow stress and strain to failure.