Effect of homogenization on the hot deformation behavior of cast AZ31 magnesium alloy

The changes in the hot working behavior of as-cast AZ31 magnesium alloy occurring due to homogenization have been studied using processing maps. The map for as-cast material exhibits three workability domains of dynamic recrystallization, the industrially viable one being in the temperature range of 325–400 °C and strain rate range of 0.3–1.0 s−1. The homogenization treatment, which dissolves the intermetallic particles present at the grain boundaries of as-cast material, improves hot workability by expanding the workability domains and reducing the intercrystalline cracking and flow instability regimes. The rate-controlling mechanisms are however unchanged by the homogenization treatment.