Analysis of formability of Ca-added magnesium alloy sheets at low temperatures

•A weak basal texture with broadening basal poles along the TD in AZX311•Lower critical stress for fracture at RT in AZX311 than in AZ31•Lower strain-hardening rates at low temperatures in the AZX311 than in the AZ31•Higher formability at low temperatures in AZX311 because of the weak basal texture

The formability of sheets of the Ca-added magnesium alloy AZX311 was analyzed. The parameters affecting the sheet formability, such as the strain-hardening rate and the strain-rate sensitivity, did not seem to be higher in the alloy AZX311 at temperatures of room temperature (RT) and 200 °C. In addition, the critical stress for fracture at RT was lower in AZX311 than in AZ31. However, AZX311 exhibited higher stretchability and formability at low temperatures than AZ31. Electron back-scattered diffraction microscopy revealed that AZX311 had a weaker basal texture as well as broadened basal poles along the transverse direction. Polycrystal plasticity simulations confirmed that this weaker basal texture increases the activity of basal slip over thickness strain, resulting in the higher formability of AZX311.