Processing of a magnesium alloy by equal-channel angular pressing using a back-pressure

Experiments were conducted on the magnesium AZ31 alloy to evaluate the significance of conducting equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) with a back-pressure. Following processing by ECAP, the values of the Vickers microhardness were recorded on the cross-sectional planes and microstructural observations were undertaken using transmission electron microscopy. The results show an increase in the hardness in the first pass with significant microstructural inhomogeneity and a transition towards a more homogeneous structure with subsequent passes. The grain size was measured as ∼0.9 μm after 8 passes. A comparison with published data on the same alloy processed by ECAP without a back-pressure suggests several advantages in incorporating a back-pressure into ECAP. These advantages include the ability to achieve greater grain refinement, a potential for pressing at lower temperatures and the development of a more rapid evolution towards a homogeneous microstructure.