Influence of equal channel angular pressing temperature on texture, microstructure and mechanical properties of extruded AX41 magnesium

The objective of this study is the investigation of the effect of temperature of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) on the microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of AX41 magnesium alloy. ECAP processing was performed at temperatures of 220 degrees C and 250 degrees C up to 8 passes via route Bc. It was found that during ECAP processing at 250 degrees C a smaller number of passes was enough to achieve a homogeneous microstructure than at 220 degrees C. However, the final grain size obtained after 8 passes at 250 degrees C was only 4 mu m which is larger than the value of 2.7 mu m achieved at 220 degrees C. Moreover, a significant influence of the temperature of ECAP processing on the dislocation density and the crystallographic texture was observed. The proof stress of the sample processed by 8 passes at 250 degrees C was lower than that obtained at 220 degrees C. It can be attributed to the lower dislocation density, the larger grain size and the texture, which facilitates the basal slip. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.