Achieving microstructural refinement in magnesium alloys through severe plastic deformation

Abstract

Equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) is an excellent processing tool for achieving exceptional grain refinement, typically to the submicrometer level, in a range of pure metals and metallic alloys. Although processing by ECAP is relatively straight-forward when using soft metals, the processing becomes more difficult when using magnesium-based alloys and other similar difficult-to-work materials. This overview examines the procedures that must be adopted for the successful processing of these materials and then describes some of the advanced properties achieved after the successful processing of two magnesium alloys. © 2009 The Japan Institute of Metals.