A. Yamashita et al., Improving the mechanical properties of magnesium and a magnesium alloy through severe plastic deformation, MAT SCI E A, 300(1-2), 2001, pp. 142-147
Pure Mg and Mg alloys generally exhibit only limited ductilities at ambient
temperatures. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential for imp
roving the mechanical properties of pure Mg and an Mg-0.9% Al alloy at room
temperature by subjecting these materials to severe plastic deformation th
rough the procedure of equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). It is shown t
hat ECAP may be applied successfully to these materials at elevated tempera
tures and this leads to grain refinement due to the occurrence of recrystal
lization during the pressing process and to significant improvements in the
strength and ductility of these materials. Since these improvements are ap
parent after only a single pass through the ECAP die, it is concluded that
the introduction of ECAP provides a simple and effective procedure for impr
oving the ambient temperature mechanical properties of materials, such as h
cp metals, where the measured ductilities are generally limited. (C) 2001 E
lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.