Hot workability of as-cast and extruded ZE41A magnesium alloy using processing maps

The hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of as-cast and extruded ZE41A magnesium alloy were studied using processing maps. The compression tests were conducted on both as-cast and extruded alloys in the temperature range of 250-450 °C and strain rate range of 0.001-1.0 s−1 to establish the processing map. The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and instability zones were identified and validated through micrographs. The extruded ZE41A magnesium alloy shows higher flow stress, higher efficiency and lower instability regimes than as-cast alloy. The extruded ZE41A magnesium alloy achieves good hot workability due to grain refinement, decrease in porosity, hardening and strengthening of the material.