Hot deformation behaviors and processing maps of Mg-Zn-Er alloys based on Gleeble-1500 hot compression simulation

The hot deformation behaviors of as-solution Mg?xZn?yEr alloys (x/y=6, x=3.0, 4.5 and 6.0; y=0.50, 0.75 and 1.00) wereinvestigated on Gleeble?1500 thermal simulator in a temperature range of 200?450 °C at a strain rate of 0.001?1 s?1. The truestress?strain curves showed the dynamic competition between the working hardening and working softening mainly due to thedynamic recrystallization (DRX) occurring during hot compression. The constitutive equations were constructed which couldaccurately predict the peak stress of the alloys. The addition of Zn and/or Er resulted in higher deformation activation energy forMg?3Zn?0.5Er (alloy A). The processing maps were constructed as function of the temperature and the strain rate, providing theoptimum hot working conditions (i.e., at strain of 0.3, Mg?3Zn?0.5Er (alloy A): 380?430 ?C, <0.1 s?1; Mg?4.5Zn?0.75Er (alloy B):380?450 ?C, 0.01?0.1 s?1; Mg?6Zn?1Er (alloy C): 390?440 ?C, 0.01?0.1 s?1). The as-solution treated Mg?4.5Zn?0.75Er (alloy B)demonstrated more optimum hot working window comparing with Mg?3Zn?0.5Er (alloy A) and Mg?6Zn?1Er (alloy C).

Effect of temperature on microstructure and texture evolution of Mg-Zn-Er alloy during hot compression

The microstructure and texture evolutions in Mg-Zn-Er alloy during hot compression were investigated by using opticalmicroscope （OM）, field emission scanning electron microscope （EBSD） and transmission electron microscope （TEM）. The resultsindicate that the temperature plays an important role in dynamic recrystallization （DRX） mechanism. The twin dynamicrecrystallization （TDRX） is induced at a strain of 0.6 because of the activation of non-basal slip （a＋c ） dislocations at 200 ℃.Meanwhile, the continuous DRX （CDRX） occurs at 350℃, which is identified by the typical necklace-like structure around theresidual initial grains. The DRX contributes to the modification of texture significantly. The tension twins are responsible for theweak texture at 200 ℃. Meanwhile, the decrease in the basal texture is ascribed to the DRX sites which transfer from twinboundaries to initial grain boundaries as the temperature is increased from 200 to 350 ℃.