Production of AZ80/Al composite rods employing non-equal channel lateral extrusion

In order to simultaneously take the advantages of magnesium and aluminum alloys, AZ80/Al composite rods were produced using non-equal channel lateral extrusion (NECLE) process at different temperatures. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) tests as well as the shear punch test were employed to study the quality and strength of the bond between the two alloys. It was found that the process temperature was an important factor affecting the level of interfacial bonding, such that increasing the temperature from 250 to 300 °C has improved the strength by 37% and the thickness of the bond between the layers by 4.5%. Moreover, this temperature rise reduced the maximum required forming load by 13%. However, the hardness tests showed that this increase in the process temperature resulted in 4% decrease in the hardness of the composite bar.