Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of AZ80 Mg Alloy during Annular Channel Angular Extrusion Process and Heat Treatment

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of AZ80 Mg alloy during annular channel angular extrusion (350 °C) and heat treatment with varying parameters were investigated, respectively. The results showed that dynamic recrystallization of Mg grains was developed and the dendritic eutectic β-Mg(17)Al(12) phases formed during the solidification were broken into small β-phase particles after hot extrusion. Moreover, a weak texture with two dominant peaks formed owing to the significant grain refinement and the enhanced activation of pyramidal <c + a> slip at relative high temperature. The tension tests showed that both the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the extruded alloy were dramatically improved owing to the joint strengthening effect of fine grain and β-phase particles as compared with the homogenized sample. The solution treatment achieved the good plasticity of the alloy resulting from the dissolution of β-phases and the development of more equiaxed grains, while the direct-aging process led to poor alloy elongation as a result of residual eutectic β-phases. After solution and aging treatment, simultaneous bonding strength and plasticity of the alloy were achieved, as a consequence of dissolution of coarse eutectic β-phases and heterogeneous precipitation of a large quantity of newly formed β-phases with both the morphologies of continuous and discontinuous precipitates.