Microstructure evolution and low temperature superplasticity of ZK40 magnesium alloy subjected to ECAP

Microstructure evolution and superplastic behaviors of ZK40 magnesium alloy were investigated in the temperature range of 473–623 K. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the microstructure changes. After the alloy had been processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) for one pass through the die, significant twinning was found to have occurred, and the mean grain size was 5.6 μm. Finer grains were obtained after multi-pass ECAP, and the average grain size of the alloy ECAPed for three passes was as low as 0.8 μm; this alloy exhibited low temperature superplasticity at 473–523 K, and the elongations obtained at the initial strain rate of 1×10−3 s−1 were 260% at 473 K and 612% at 523 K. Corresponding values for the ZK40 alloy processed by ECAP for only one pass were 124% at 473 K and 212% at 523 K. Poor superplastic behavior of the ZK40 alloy processed by ECAP for only one pass was related to the longrange stresses associated with the non-equilibrium grain boundaries within the coarse grains. The incompatibility between the fine grains and the coarse grains was thought to be unfavorable to the improvement of superplascity.