Hot deformation constitutive model and processing maps of homogenized Al-5Mg-3Zn-1Cu alloy

Isothermal uniaxial compression experiments were performed in the range of 300-450 degrees C and 0.001 to 10 s(-1) to clarify the hot deformation behavior of homogenized Al-5Mg-3Zn-1Cu alloy. The results revealed that the flow curves exhibited typical characteristics of DRV/DRX accompanied by the work-hardening, and the existence of three distinct stages of work-hardening, transition, and steady-state in each flow curve. A strain-compensated constitutive model for determining flow stress in this alloy was established with highly acceptable predictability. The dominant deformation mechanism of the alloy is dislocation climbing. Also, dynamic-material-model-based processing maps at various strains were constructed, and the unstable and workable domains were distinguished. Instability generally occurred in high strain rates and low temperatures zone with prevalent instability forms such as cracking and flow localization. The workable domain was 375-450 degrees C and 0.001-0.1 s(-1), in which the microstructure of the deformed alloy was characterized by dynamic recovery and multiple types of dynamic recrystallization. The dynamic precipitates were labeled as T-Mg-32(AlZnCu)(49) phase. These intermittently distributed precipitates along the grain boundaries were stable in all temperature ranges, while the intragranular precipitates were inhibited at 300 degrees C. Temperature increment to 400 degrees C led to a large number of dispersed intragranular precipitates which redissolved into the matrix as temperature exceeded 450 degrees C. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Isothermal uniaxial compression experiments were conducted on homogenized Al-5Mg-3Zn-1Cu alloy to investigate its hot deformation behavior. A strain-compensated constitutive model was established to predict flow stress with high accuracy. The dominant deformation mechanism of the alloy was identified as dislocation climbing, and processing maps were constructed to identify workable and unstable domains in different temperature and strain rate ranges.