Deformation Capacity of a Ternary Magnesium Alloy in a Gas-Forming Process at Elevated Temperatures

An experimental ternary magnesium alloy, Mg-2Zn-2Ce, has been investigated. The attention was focused on the possibility of using this alloy for an unconventional sheet-forming process based on a flexible medium (gas-forming) for applications where weight-saving and complex shapes are required. Free inflation tests were performed at temperatures ranging from 350°C to 450°C, employing either a constant forming gas pressure or pressure jumps during the same test in order to evaluate the strain rate sensitivity, m, of the material. Interrupted free inflation tests at known dome heights were also conducted to investigate both the strain and the microstructural evolution. In addition, the texture behavior of the alloy was studied after hot rolling, revealing a weak deformation texture. Even though the material was in the as-cast condition, the alloy showed a good deformation capacity and contribution due to grain boundary sliding, indicating a potential for superplastic deformation.