Hot deformation behavior and dynamic recrystallization kinetics of AZ61 and AZ61 + Sr magnesium alloys

In this study, the effect of strontium addition on hot deformation of AZ61 alloy was investigated by hot compression tests. A reference alloy (AZ61) and an Sr-containing alloy (AZ61 + Sr) was cast while their average initial grain size were supposed to be about 140 and 40 µm, respectively. In AZ61 + Sr alloy, the Sr-containing precipitations were stable at homogenization temperature. Analysing the hot compression curves, it was revealed that dynamic recrystallization phenomenon had occurred and controlled the thermomechanical behaviour of the alloys. The derived constitutive equations showed that the hot deformation parameters (n and Q) in AZ61 + Sr alloy is smaller than those of AZ61 alloy; this can be related to the small initial grain size and the lower amounts of solute aluminium atoms. The analysis of DRX kinetics along with the micrographs of the deformed microstructures showed that at the same condition the development of DRXed microstructure in AZ61 + Sr alloy was faster than AZ61 alloy. The increased recrystallized microstructure was interpretated to be attributed to (1) the more grain boundaries present and (2) the existance of the Al-Mg-Sr precipitations assisted the PSN mechanism. Also, the attenuated intensity of the basal texture of AZ61 + Sr was related to the DRX fraction of microstructure.