Microstructural changes during hot rolling of the cast Zn-21Al-2Cu alloy

In order to establish the process parameters for hot rolling of Zn-21Al-2Cu alloy rolling tests were performed at temperatures above and below the eut ectoid temperature of the Zn-Al system. the main goal was to observe the mi crostructure evolution during deformation and analyze the mechanisms taking place during rolling process. The results allow to define the temperature, strain rate and the reduction in each pass in order to get sheet of high q uality. The as cast structure is formed by 3 constituents; primary a! phase , colonies of alpha + eta phases and an interderidritic constituent formed by eta phase and alpha phase precipitates. It is very difficult to eliminat e the as cast microstructure even with true deformations bigger than 300%.