Interaction of dynamic precipitation and dynamic recrystallization of a Mg-4Sn-3Al-1Zn alloy during hot compression

The intrinsic correlation between dynamic precipitation and Dynamic Recrystallization (DRX) in a rare earth (RE)-free engineering Mg-4Sn-3Al-1Zn (TAZ431, wt.%) magnesium alloy has been systematically investigated. Hot compression tests were performed on the TAZ431 alloy, in comparison to Mg-3Al-1Zn (AZ31, wt.%) as a reference alloy, with varying temperatures, strain rates, and strain levels (T = 300 -460 degrees C; epsilon = 0.001 -1 s-1; epsilon = 0 to-0.9). Correlative microstructural characterizations including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), were employed to explore the behaviors of precipitation, DRX and intragranular deformation as subjected to hot compression. The results indicate a significant interaction between Mg2Sn dynamic precipitation and the formation of DRXed grains. The TAZ431 alloy with Sn alloying exhibits profuse precipitation and larger DRX fraction within the microstructure, resulting in the increase of modulus and hardness. Nucleation of DRXed grains in the TAZ431 alloy was stimulated by relatively large (over 1 micrometer) undissolved Mg2Sn intermetallic particles. Meanwhile, the precipitation of nano-sized Mg2Sn occurred within DRXed grains and was facilitated by DRX process, consequently hindering the further growth of DRXed grains. The findings here may have implications for alloy design and thermal-mechanical processing of magnesium alloy structural components.