Abstract
Mg–9%Al–1%Zn alloy is widely used as a casting or die casting material, however, its plastic formability is limited because of coarse eutectic intermetallic compounds and casting defects at grain boundaries. This study proposes a novel thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) process for Mg–9%Al–1%Zn alloy using simple hot pressing technique. Cast Mg–9%Al–1%Zn alloy plates were uniaxially hot pressed up to 67% followed by isothermal holding at high temperature. The TMT processed Mg–9%Al–1%Zn alloys showed both high tensile strength over 350 MPa and high elongation over 20%. Microstructural observation revealed that the enhanced mechanical properties are due to reduction of intermetallic phases and casting defects. Present TMT process is easily applicable to many types of magnesium alloy sheets.
