Hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of a Mg–Gd–Nd–Y–Zn alloy

Abstract

Abstract The hot deformation behavior of homogenized Mg–6.5Gd–1.3Nd–0.7Y–0.3Zn alloy was investigated during compression at temperatures of 250–400 °C and at strain rates ranging from 0.001 to 0.100 s −1 . Microstructure analyses show that the flow behaviors are associated with the deformation mechanisms. At the lower temperatures (250–300 °C), deformation twinning is triggered due to the difficult activation of dislocation cross‐slip. Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) accompanied by dynamic precipitation occurs at the temperature of 350 °C and influences the softening behavior of the flow. DRX that develops extensively at original grain boundaries is the main softening mechanism at the high temperature of 400 °C and eventually brings a more homogeneous microstructure than that in other deformation conditions. The volume fraction of the DRXed grains increases with temperature increasing and decreases with strain rate increasing.