Microstructure of asymmetric twin-roll cast AZ31 magnesium alloy

The microstructural distribution along thickness of asymmetric twin-roll cast AZ31 magnesium alloy slab was investigated. It was found that the microstructure along the thickness of the slab was significantly inhomogeneous. There were many deformed bands with flow form near the upper surface of twin-roll cast plate. Very few deformed bands could be seen in the central part of the plate where the dendrites were thick. Fine dendritic structures dominated near the lower surface of the twin-roll cast strip. It is concluded that the shear strain caused by linear velocity difference between surfaces of upper and lower rolls results in the deformed bands of the twin-roll cast slab. Aluminum, zinc and manganese segregate to the boundary of dendrites, while silicon distributes inside the α-Mg solid solution.

Influence of temperature and strain rate on flow stress behavior of twin-roll cast, rolled and heat-treated AZ31 magnesium alloys

The effects of temperature and strain rate on the flow stress behavior of twin-roll cast, rolled and heat-treated AZ31 magnesium alloys were investigated under uniaxial tension. At high temperatures, dynamic recovery, continuous dynamic recrystallization, grain boundary sliding and the activation of additional slip systems lead to an improvement of the ductility of the alloys. The elongation to failure is nearly independent of the strain rate between 473 and 523 K at 10-2 s-1 and 10-1 s-1, which is related to the strain rate dependence of the critical resolved shear stress（CRSS） for nonbasal slip. Despite the high temperature, twins are even observed at 573 K and 10-3 s-1 because they have a low CRSS.

Characteristics of hot tensile deformation and microstructure evolution of twin-roll cast AZ31B magnesium alloys

High temperature tensile properties and microstructure evolutions of twin-roll-cast AZ31B magnesium alloy were investigated over a strain rate range from 10-3 to 1 s-1.It is suggested that the dominant deformation mechanism in the lower strain rate regimes is dislocation creep controlled by grain boundary diffusion at lower temperature and by lattice diffusion at higher temperatures,respectively.Furthermore,dislocation glide and twinning are dominant deformation mechanisms at higher strain-rate.The processing map,the effective diffusion coefficient and activation energy map of the alloy were established.The relations of microstructure evolutions to the transition temperature of dominant diffusion process,the activation energy platform and the occurrence of the full dynamic recrystallization with the maximum peak efficiency were analyzed.It is revealed that the optimum conditions for thermo-mechanical processing of the alloy are at a temperature range from 553 to 593 K,and a strain rate range from 7×10-3 to 2×10-3 s-1.

Preparation of AZ31 magnesium alloy strips using vertical twin-roll caster

A newly developed technology for manufacturing magnesium alloy strip,vertical twin-roll strip casting,has been described.This manufacturing process is easy to be facilitated in an economical way to manufacture wrought magnesium alloy strips. As an example,AZ31 magnesium alloy was used to investigate the appropriate manufacturing conditions for vertical twin-roll strip casting by varying the temperatures of the molten materials and rolling speeds.The effects of manufacturing conditions on forming quality were clarified in terms of roll speeds and casting temperature.In addition,microscopic observation and X-ray diffraction of the as-cast strips were performed.It has been determined that AZ31 alloy strip of 1-3 mm in thickness can be produced at a speed of 30 m/min by a vertical twin-roll caster.The microstructure of as-cast strip only containsα-phase(Mg)and no other phase,and the twin-roll casting process can effectively refine the grain size.The fine equiaxed grain of as-cast strips is beneficial to the plastic deformation of the strips,and it is also suitable for direct cold-rolling with a maximum cold-rolling reduction of 40%.

Effect of asymmetric rolling process on the microstructure,mechanical properties and texture of AZ31 magnesium alloys sheets produced by twin roll casting technique

Symmetric rolling(SR)and asymmetric rolling(ASR)processes were carried out on 6 mm thick AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets that were produced by twin roll casting(TRC)technique.Before rolling processes,sheets were heat treated in order to obtain a homogenized microstructure.In this study,for the ASR process the rolling speed ratio between upper roller and lower was selected as 1.25.Both SR and ASR processes were utilized with 40%reduction per passes using 2 pass schedule for a total reduction ratio of 0.67.Symmetric and asymmetric rolled sheets were characterized using optical microscopy(OM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM)techniques.Texture measurements were performed by using X-ray diffraction(XRD)technique and mechanical properties were investigated by tensile tests and also hardness measurements.

Mathematical modeling of thermo-mechanical behavior of strip during twin roll casting of an AZ31 magnesium alloy

The effect of set-back distance on the thermo-mechanical behavior of the strip during twin roll casting(TRC)of an AZ31 magnesium alloy was modeled using finite element method(FEM).Model validation was done by comparing the predicted and measured exit strip surface temperature as well as the secondary dendrite arm spacing(SDAS)through the thickness of the sheet to those measured during experiments.Model results showed as the set-back distance increases,the strip exit temperature decreases and the solidification front moves toward the entry of the roll gap.The cast strip also experiences more plastic deformation and consequently,the normal stress on the strip surface and effective strain at the strip center-line increase.Moreover,higher separating forces were predicted for longer set-back distances.Model predictions showed that changing the set-back distance by varying the final thickness has a more significant effect on the temperature and stress-strain fields than altering the nozzle opening height.

Numerical simulation of DC casting of AZ31 magnesium slab at different casting speeds

A mathematical model of the direct chill(DC)casting process for AZ31magnesium slab has been developed to predict the temperature evolution in the slab.The temperature fields at different casting speeds were compared and the optimum casting speed of 300 mm×800 mm magnesium slab in the certain pouring temperature and cooling-water flow rate was obtained.The casting speed during the plant trial was consistent with the calculation.

Dynamic modeling of twin roll casting AZ41 magnesium alloy during hot compression processing

A dynamic material model of Mg-4.51Al-1.19Zn-0.5Mn-0.5Ca(AZ41,mass fraction,%)magnesium alloy was put forward.The results show that the dynamic material model can characterize the deformation behavior and microstructure evolution and describe the relations among flow stress,strain,strain rates and deformation temperatures.Statistical analysis shows the validity of the proposed model.The model predicts that lower deformation temperature and higher strain rate cause the sharp strain hardening. Meanwhile,the flow stress curve turns into a steady state at high temperature and lower strain rate.The moderate temperature of 350 ℃and strain rate of 0.01 s-1 are appropriate to this alloy.

Microstructure,tensile properties and free bulge formability of Sr-and Y-containing AZ31 alloy sheet produced by twin-roll casting and sequential hot rolling

The effects of Sr and Y on microstructure,tensile property and free bulge formability of AZ31 alloy sheet produced by twin-roll casting and sequential hot rolling were investigated to improve the mechanical properties and formability of the AZ31 alloy.Sr and Y addition can form Al4 Sr,Al2 Y and Al3 Y phases which can impede dislocation movement and promote dynamic recrystallization during the rolling deformation and decrease the lattice resistance to dislocation motion by decreasing Al solubility in the alloy,resulting in finer grains,lower dislocation density and no twinning generating in the twin-roll casting and sequential hot rolling(TRC-HR)AZ31-1.3 Sr-1.0 Y alloy.The maximum stress and elongation of the alloy increase significantly after adding Sr and Y.The average cavity and grain sizes of the TRC-HR AZ31-1.3 Sr-1.0 Y alloy are smaller,resulting in higher elongation in the alloy.The addition of Y and Sr can effectively improve the free bulge formability and the thickness uniform of the alloy.The Al4 Sr,Al2 Y and A13 Y phases can inhibit the grain growth by obstructing dislocation motion or grain boundary slip,resulting in smaller grain size of AZ31-1.3 Sr-1.0 Y alloy bulge parts.

Effect of elements Zn, Sn and In on microstructures and performances of AZ91 alloy

A new magnesium alloy plate added elements Zn, Sn and In was manufactured by twin-roll continuous casting method to improve the precipitation of AZ91 alloy. The effects of elements addition and casting method on microstructure and mechanical properties of the Mg-Zn-In-Sn alloys were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and energy dispersion spectrograph (EDS). The results show that the Mg-Zn-In-Sn alloy has higher tensile strength and better corrosion protection than the AZ91 alloy. The outstanding precipitation strengthening effect of the alloy is attributed to the small grain size and the hard precipitates between the grain boundaries.