Effect of Temperature and Extrusion Pass on the Consolidation of Magnesium Powders Using Equal Channel Angular Extrusion

The microstructure and characteristics of bulk magnesium consolidated from Mg powder by equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) were investigated. Cu cans filled with Mg powder, of about 74 mu m in diameter, were ECAE processed for one, two and four passes via the Bc route at 473, 523 and 573 K. The microstructure of ECAE-processed samples was observed by OM and SEM. The density of each sample was determined using Archimedes' principle. Microhardness and compression tests were conducted to investigate the mechanical properties of each ECAE-processed sample. The best consolidated condition between powders was achieved after four passes of ECAE at 573 K. Density at 98.4% of the ideal density of bulk Mg was achieved, microhardness was about 49 Hv, and compressive yield stress was about 100 MPa.