Thesis

Improving mechanical properties of a magnesium alloy by severe plastic deformation

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2014
Thesis identifier
  • T13811
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Abstract
  • Magnesium alloys are very promising materials for automotive and aerospace applications due to their low density. The market of medical implants (e.g. temporary orthopaedic and cardiovascular implants) is another field of possible applications of magnesium alloys since they can completely dissolve within human body without causing any major health issues. Unfortunately, magnesium alloys have been well-known from their low formability at room temperature and poor corrosion resistance. The aim of the current work was to improve mechanical properties of a magnesium alloy by incremental equal channel angular pressing (I-ECAP). The goal of the process is to refine grain structure of a continuous bulk metallic billet without changing its dimensions. In the current work, the most popular wrought magnesium alloy AZ31B was subjected to I-ECAP for the first time to confirm potential of the method for industrial production of innovative lightweight materials. The process window was determined on the basis of I-ECAP experiments conducted with various process parameters (temperature, processing route, initial grain size of the alloy). Additionally, various microstructural characterization methods, including ex situ and in situ analyses, were incorporated in this work to show a relation between the grain size and the deformation mechanisms occurring in the alloy. It was found that mechanical properties of AZ31B can be tailored to a specific application by using different process parameters. It was shown that yield strength can be increased from 165 MPa to 290 MPa when temperature of I-ECAP is reduced to 150 °C. Moreover, room temperature ductility of the produced material can exceed 40% when a combination of I-ECAP and subsequent heat treatment is applied. The results of the work confirmed that I-ECAP could be considered as the useful method for producing advanced lightweight metallic materials with a potential for industrial applications.
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DOI
Date Created
  • 2014
Former identifier
  • 1038790

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