Mechanical properties and formability of an Mg-6%Li-1%Zn alloy thin sheet at elevated temperatures

Forming limit diagram presents limit strains for different strain paths. In this study, forming limit diagrams were determined for a LZ61 alloy sheet with a thickness of 0.6 mm. Uniaxial tension tests and press-forming tests were carried out at various temperatures. The influences of anisotropy and temperature on deformation characteristics were investigated. Formability parameters such as average plastic strain ratio, planar anisotropy, and work hardening exponent were determined by tensile test results. The forming limit diagrams have been experimentally evaluated at various temperatures. Anisotropic behaviors were observed in the mechanical properties at all test temperatures. The tensile properties and formability parameters were correlated with the forming limit diagrams. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.