Improving tensile and compressive properties of magnesium alloy plates by pre-cold rolling

The tensile and compressive properties of AZ31 plates were dramatically enhanced by pre-rolling with small thickness reduction along the transverse direction. The yield asymmetry was also greatly improved. This is attributed to the subdivision of grains by introducing extension twin boundaries. Moreover, the introduction of twin boundaries had less impact on the slope of the stage Ill strain hardening curve, while it slightly prolonged the stage III curve in compression. The deformation mechanism of the materials containing twin lamellae was also discussed. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.