Aging behavior of ECAP processed AZ80 Mg alloy

Equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) can produce ultrafine grain structures in metals. The processing can also dissolve second phases through mechanical alloying effects over the equilibrium solubility of alloying elements. Therefore, one can enhance mechanical properties by combining ECAP and subsequent precipitation treatment by proper aging. In this preliminary study, an AZ80 Mg alloy was investigated. The original extruded bars were subjected to ECAP at 473 K for 4 passes to achieve a significant grain refinement down to the submicrometric regime. The possibility of exploiting the aging effect to improve mechanical strength of the alloy was studied by the following two different methods. The first method consisted of ECAP processing the samples followed by aging. The second method consisted of performing a solution treatment prior to ECAP processing and then the final aging of the samples. Micro-hardness measurements and microstructure analyses showed that reprecipitation of the Mg17Al12 phase can occur during warm temperature ECAP and aging in the AZ80 alloy at grain cores in a more finely dispersed form. This precipitation behavior can potentially generate a significant contribution to the strength of the UFG alloy.