Skip to main content
Log in

Enhancement of ductility in Mg-3Al-1Zn alloy with tilted basal texture by electropulsing

  • Article
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The microstructure and texture evolution in a cold-rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy during electropulsing treatment (EPT) are investigated and correlated with the mechanical properties. The microstructure is effectively refined, and a tilted basal texture develops gradually during EPT. The yield stress in the treated samples is lower than that in the cold-rolled sample, indicating that texture softening is dominant over strengthening because of grain refinement. The phenomenon is primarily the result of the tilted basal texture. EPT improves the tensile ductility of the EPT samples significantly, albeit slightly compromising the tensile strength. The mechanism of the microstructure evolution during electropulsing is discussed from the viewpoint of grain-boundary motion. Moreover, the ductility enhancement is discussed in terms of the deformation mechanism and texture of the Mg alloy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. B.L. Mordike and T. Ebert: Magnesium properties—Applications—Potential. Mater. Sci. Eng.A, 302, 37 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Y. Chino and M. Mabuchi: Influences of grain size on mechanical properties of extruded AZ91 mg alloy after different extrusion processes. Adv. Eng. Mater. 3, 981 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. T. Mukai, M. Yamanoi, H. Watanabe, and K. Higashi: Ductility enhancement in AZ31 magnesium alloy by controlling its grain structure. Scr. Mater. 45, 89 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. J. Koike, T. Kobayashi, T. Mukai, and H. Watanabe: The activity of non-basal slip systems and dynamic recovery at room temperature in fine-grained AZ31B magnesium alloys. Acta Mater. 51, 2055 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Z.H. Xu, G.Y. Tang, F. Ding, S.Q. Tian, and H.Y. Tian: The effect of multiple treatment on the recrystallization behavior of Mg-3Al-1Zn alloy strip. Anni. Phys. A 88, 429 (2007).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. X.N. Du, S.M. Yin, S.C. Liu, B.Q. Wang, and J.D. Guo: Effect of the electropulsing on mechanical properties and microstructure of an ECAPed AZ31 Mg alloy. J. Mater. Res. 23, 1570 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. L. Guan, G. Tang Y., Y.B. Jiang, and P.K. Chu: Texture evolution in cold-rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy during electropulsing treatment. J. Alloys Compd. (2009; doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2009.07.114).

  8. Y.B. Jiang, G.Y. Tang, L. Guan, S.N. Wang, Z.H. Xu, C.H. Shek, and Y.H. Zhu: Improved ductility of aged Mg–9Al–1Zn alloy strip by electropulsing treatment. J. Mater. Res. 24, 1 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Sambasiva G. Rao and Y.V.R. PrasadK.: Grain boundary strengthening in Strongly textured magnesium produced by hot rolling. Metall. Trans. A 13, 2219 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. W.J. Kim, C.W. An, Y.S. Kim, and S.I. Hong: Mechanical properties and microstructures of an AZ61 Mg alloy produced by equal channel angular pressing. Scr. Mater. 47, 39 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. W.J. Kim, S.I. Hong, Y.S. Kim, S.H. Min, H.T. Jeong, and J.D. Lee: Texture development and its effect on mechanical properties of an AZ61 Mg alloy fabricated by equal channel angular pressing. Acta Mater. 51, 3293 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. S.R. Agnew, J.A. Horton, T.M. Lillo, and D.W. Brown: Enhanced ductility in strongly textured magnesium produced by equal channel angular pressing. Scr. Mater. 50, 377 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. A. Styczynski, Hartig Ch., J. Bohlen, and D. Letzig: Cold rolling textures in AZ31 wrought magnesium alloy. Scr. Mater. 50, 943 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Y.H. Zhu, S. To, W.B. Lee, X.M. Liu, Y.B. Jiang, and G.Y. Tang: Effects of dynamic electropulsing on microstructure and elongation of a Zn-Al alloy. Mater. Sci. Eng.A, 501, 125 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. M.R. Barnett, M.D. Nave, and C.J. Bettles: Deformation micro-structures and textures of some cold rolled Mg alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng.A, 386, 205 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. J. Koike: Enhanced deformation mechanisms by anisotropic plasticity in polycrystalline Mg alloys at room temperature. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 36, 1698 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. A. Jain, O. Duygulu, D.W. Brown, C.N. Tomé, and S.R. Agnew: Grain size effects on the tensile properties and deformation mechanisms of a magnesium alloy, AZ31B, sheet. Mater. Sci. Eng.A, 486, 545 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. E.W. Kelly and W.F. Hosford: Plane-strain compression of magnesium and magnesium alloy crystals. Trans. TMS-AIME 242, 5 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  19. T. Obara, H. Yoshinaga, and S. Morozumi: 1122 123 slip system in magnesium. Acta Metall. 21, 845 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guoyi Tang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guan, L., Tang, G., Chu, P.K. et al. Enhancement of ductility in Mg-3Al-1Zn alloy with tilted basal texture by electropulsing. Journal of Materials Research 24, 3674–3679 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2009.0436

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2009.0436

Navigation