Strain Softening and Hardening Behavior in AZ61 Magnesium Alloy

The deformation behavior of AZ61 Mg alloy during hot deformation has been investigated in wide temperature and strain rate range by a Gleeble simulator. Specimens are deformed in compression in the temperature range of 523~673 K and at strain rates of 0.001~1 s¬¬¬-1. It is found that the flow curves exhibit a peak and then decrease towards steady-state of classical DRX, which decrease with rising temperature and decreasing strain rate. The deformation behavior of the specimens can be attributed to the occurrence of strain hardening and softening. As stress decreases, the strain hardening rate declines at a fast rate when temperature rises or strain rate decreases. The shapes of θ-σ curves indicate some important features such as subgrain formation, the critical stress, the peak stress and steady stress. The onset of DRX can be determined by the point of inflection on θ-σ or lnθ-σ curves.