Effects of Homogenization on Structure Property Relations of an Indirect Extruded ZE20 Mg Alloy

McClelland, Z., Li, B., Horstemeyer, S., Horstemeyer, M., & Oppedal, A. L. (2016). Effects of Homogenization on Structure Property Relations of an Indirect Extruded ZE20 Mg Alloy. In A. Singh, K, Solanki, M. V. Manuel, N. R. Neelameggham (Eds.), Magnesium Technology 2016. Nashville, TN: Wiley-TMS. 141--146.

The effects of billet homogenization on final grain size, texture, and mechanical properties after indirect extrusion of a ZE20 magnesium (Mg) alloy were studied. Using a laboratory scale indirect extrusion process, both as-cast, and homogenized ZE20 billets were extruded into solid rods with an extrusion ratio of 25, at 454˚C and at several ram speeds. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used to characterize texture and grain size of the extruded material. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was used to characterize the effect of homogenization on elemental segregation. To determine the effects of homogenization and extrusion on mechanical properties, tension and compression tests were performed at room temperature and quasi-static test conditions. In tension, the homogenized extruded material exhibited a 29% elongation to failure, a 5% increase over the as-cast extruded material that obtained a 24% elongation to failure. The texture of the homogenized extruded material was also significantly weaker than that of the as-cast extruded materials.