| Abstract Scope |
The use of lightweight metals in structural applications has sparked renewed interest in Mg alloys, as Mg alloys can offer high specific strengths. Under extreme conditions, spall strength and dynamic strength determine functionality. In such applications, attempts to strengthen Mg alloys with precipitates are inadequate as second phase particles act as void nucleation sites that lower spall strength. Therefore, we focused on grain refinement with a minimal number of precipitates, using a Mg-1Zn-0.2Ca (wt%) alloy as an alternative to precipitation strengthening. The alloy was processed via Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) and confined rolling, and annealed to obtain a range of grain sizes. We then compared the as-processed and annealed microstructures, as well as the corresponding mechanical properties, measured via nanoindentation and small-scale, quasi-static tension tests. Within the context of the microstructural evolution, we will describe the ECAE processing method, testing protocols used, and enumerate the results of the effort. |