Metal Science and Heat Treatment, Vol. 52, Nos. 11 12, March, 2011 (Russian Original Nos.

. 11 12, November December, 2010)

UDC 669.721715857:621.762.224

STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN MAGNESIUM ALLOY MA14

UNDER THE ACTION OF PROCESS FACTORS
E. F. Volkova,1 I. V. Iskhodzhanova,1 and L. V. Tarasenko2
Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 12, pp. 19 23, December, 2010.

Results of a study of recrystallization processes in commercial high-strength magnesium alloy AM14, which
occur under the action process deformation factors, are presented. The possibilities of attaining a stable level
of the main mechanical characteristics and effective lowering of their anisotropy by forming an equiaxed
fine-grained structure due to optimization of the process parameters for the case of isothermal die forging are
considered.

Key words: high-strength magnesium alloy, recrystallization processes, isothermal deformation,

geometric parameters of grains, lowering of the anisotropy of properties.

production of bulk forged semiproducts with complex geometry.

INTRODUCTION
Commercial high-strength magnesium alloy MA14 of
the Mg Zn Zr system (a counterpart of alloy AZ31A,
USA) is used for making pressed, stamped, and forged
semiproducts. According to the results of earlier studies, the
range of potential applications of the alloy from the standpoint of growth in its mechanical characteristics by advancing the process of production of deformed semiproducts can
be widened considerably [1, 2].
Magnesium-base high-strength alloys present special interest where the development of efficient processes elevating
their deformability at the forming temperature due to the use
of the effect of superplasticity is concerned. In particular, this
makes it possible to produce precision pressed preforms
without additional mechanical treatment, elevates the coefficient of utilization of metal (CUM), provides leveling of the
properties over the volume of the part, and lowers the anisotropy of the main mechanical characteristics of alloys. The
general requirements on process parameters providing the
occurrence of plastic deformation of alloys in the state of
superelasticity have been formulated [3, 4].
The aim of the present work consisted in studying the effect of process deformation parameters on the occurrence of
recrystallization and formation of structure in alloy MA14
and on the main mechanical characteristics and their anisotropy for subsequent optimization of the process cycle in the
1
2

METHODS OF STUDY
We studied forged and stamped preforms from alloy
MA14 fabricated at the pilot production of FGUP VIAM.
Ingots with a size of 110 185 mm were melted with VI-2
flux. The composition of the alloy matched the requirements
of the GOST 14957 Standard for alloy MA14, i.e., Mg
5.18 wt.% Zn + 0.52 wt.% Zr. The content of impurities
matched the range specified by GOST 14957.
After mechanical treatment and homogenizing annealing
the ingots were subjected to the first stage of deformation
(upsetting) in different temperature-rate regimes in a vertical
1600 tonf die press. In the second stage of deformation a
batch of pressed model ribbed preforms was produced from
the upset preforms (Fig. 1). The developed surface of a
pressed model preform allowed us to imitate complex-configuration actual parts and to study the structure and properties in four directions.
Pressed model preforms were deformed under isothermal
conditions in one operation using low rates and different
temperature regimes in a 630 tonf hydraulic press equipped
with a UIDIN isothermal die block with induction heating.
The mechanical properties of the pressed model preforms
from alloy MA14 were determined under uniaxial tension
according to GOST 1497 in an Instron device.
The microstructure of the alloy was studied under a
Leica DM IRM light inverted microscope. The images were

All-Russia Institute for Aircraft Materials (FGUP VIAM),

Moscow, Russia.
N. . Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Russia.

592
0026-0673/11/1112-0592 2011 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.

Structural Changes in Magnesium Alloy MA14 under the Action of Process Factors
V

593

sups , P
220

250

X
180

300
140

350
100

400
Z
Fig. 1. Appearance of a pressed model ribbed preform from alloy
MA14.

450

60

20
10

30

50

70

e, %

90

sups , P

obtained with the help of a VEC video camera connected to a

computer (3 megapixel resolution). The images were analyzed and processed with the help of domestic Image Expert
Pro 3x software. In addition to the microscopic study of the
structural features of the die-pressed preforms from alloy
MA14 we performed quantitative analysis of the grain structure and processed the results statistically. We determined the
mean grain size, the oblongness of the grains, the shape parameters and the volume fraction of recrystallized and deformed grains.

180

140

10
100

100
60

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

0,5

The first stage of deformation of alloy AM14 consisted

of upsetting the initial homogenized preforms at varied temperature, rate, and degree of the deformation.3 Upsetting was
performed after preliminary heating of the preforms to 250
450C with a hold of 1 5 h upon a change in the deformation rate from 0.5 to 100 mm/min and in the degree of the
deformation e from 10 to 80%.
In the process of upsetting we determined the flow
stresses (sups ). The results of the tests were used to plot the
dependences sups = f(e, t ) (Fig. 2). Analysis of these curves
shows that 40 50% deformation during upsetting in the
whole of the studied temperature range is accompanied by
minimum flow stresses (Fig. 2a ). An additional factor affecting this parameter is the rate of the deformation. At 40 50%
deformation and deformation rate of 0.5 5.0 mm/min the
specific forces decrease to 20 35 MPa accordingly, i.e., to
the values typical for superplastic flow of the metal
(Fig. 2b ).
Figure 3 presents the microstructure of the alloy after the
first deformation stage at a temperature of 400C and a rate
of upsetting of 0.5 5.0 mm/min. The typical cast structure
of alloy MA14 becomes much finer after two-three reduction
operations (Fig. 3a ) The size of the deformed grains at a
3

With participation of N. V. Moiseev from FGUP VIAM.

20
200

250

300

350

400

450

tups ,
Fig. 2. Dependence of the specific force of upsetting of alloy MA14
on: a) the degree of deformation (e) at vdef = 10 mm/min at different
temperatures (given at the curves in C); b ) the temperature at
e = 50% at different deformation rates (given at the curves in
mm/min).

constant temperature of upsetting depends on the number of

reduction operations. After five such operations in the upsetting process the structure of the alloy is refined still more
(Fig. 3b ).
It has been shown that the degree of deformation in each
reduction should not exceed 45 50% and the number of reduction operations in the first stage of the deformation
should be at most 5 in order to avoid the appearance of
cracks.
Since the deformation occurs at a quite high temperature,
the formation of a strained structure is accompanied by
recrystallization processes (dynamic and, partially, static
ones) of different intensity depending on the chosen mode of
upsetting. The results of a comparative study of the microstructure of upset preforms, including the use of quantitative

594

E. F. Volkova et al.

10 mm

10 mm

Fig. 3. Microstructure of an intermediate preform from alloy MA14

after the first stage of deformation at 400C ( 1000): a) 2 reduction
operations in upsetting; b ) 5 reduction operations.

diffraction analysis, allow us to judge on the efficiency of the

chosen modes of the first stage of deformation (see Fig. 4).
The effect of the use of the Image Expert Pro 3x software becomes obvious when we compare the microstructure
in the initial form (Fig. 4b ) and after processing the same image (Fig. 4c ).
Other process parameters of the first deformation stage
being equal, we studied in greater detail the effect of the temperature on the special features of structure formation in the
alloy.
After upsetting at 370C the volume fraction of deformed grains in the structure of preforms is the highest
(47.3%) of the three types of structure formed at 370, 400,
and 450C. At 370C many geometric parameters of deformed grains are the highest, namely, the mean grain diameter (77.3 mm), the mean maximum Feret diameter (116.7 mm),

the oblongness of the grains (3.21), and the scattering with

respect to the mean diameter of deformed grains (Table 1).
The scattering with respect to the mean diameter of grains
characterized the differences in the grain sizes. Thus, the
scattering of grain sizes in the structure at 370C remains
considerable, which reflects insufficient efficiency of the diffusion processes.
When the temperature of upsetting is increased to 450C,
the geometric parameters of the deformed grains decrease
progressively; their volume fraction falls from 47.3 to 36.7%,
and the mean maximum and minimum Feret diameters decrease, which may be a result of intense growth of the fine
recrystallized grains (Fig. 4, Table 2).
Note that the picture for recrystallized grains is inverse.
Intensification of diffusion processes upon growth in the
temperature of upsetting activates the process of nucleation
of new grains and accelerates the growth of the already
formed recrystallized grains (Fig. 4b e). This is confirmed
by changes in the geometric characteristics of the grains, i.e.,
the mean diameter of the fine recrystallized grains increases
from 5.1 mm (at tups = 370C) to 7.2 mm (at tups = 450C).
The diameter of the circle of the equivalent area of
recrystallized grains increases by a factor of 1.4 and the difference between the minimum and maximum Feret diameters increases (Table 2).
Comparative analysis of these results shows that after
upsetting at 400C the structure of alloy MA14 is characterized by the most balanced proportion between the
recrystallized and deformed grains and higher roundedness
of the grains. At this temperature the oblongness of the deformed grains is the lowest (2.41) and the scattering with respect to the mean diameters of the deformed grains is the
lowest ( 1.83) too. For the recrystallized grains the difference between the values of the mean diameters of fine (6.7)
and coarse (24.3) grains is the lowest.
Thus, at 400C the structure of the alloy is more prepared
for the second stage of deformation (Fig. 4c, Tables 1 and 2).
In order to raise the adaptability of the alloy to manufacture and stabilize the formed structure, we performed heat
treatment (low-temperature annealing) between the first and
second stages of deformation.
The second stage of deformation of preforms from alloy
MA14 (after the heat treatment) was performed under isothermal conditions at a low rate. We produced a test batch of

TABLE 1. Geometrical Characteristics of Deformed Grains in Specimens of Alloy MA14 (after the First Stage of Deformation)
tups , C

Vd.g , %, scattering

Dg , mm

Dmax /Dmin

Dferet(max) , mm

DFeret(min) , mm

370

47.3 (44.9 49.6)

77.3 4.13

3.21 0.14

116.7 6.8

400

45.5 (40.4 54.4)

66.3 1.83

2.41 0.05

92.3 2.72

38.2 1.17

450

36.7 (32.8 42.0)

57.6 3.0

3.08 0.10

84.9 4.36

30.2 1.77

37.9 2.00

Notations: tups ) temperature of upsetting, Vd.g ) volume fraction of deformed grains, Dg ) mean grain diameter;
Dmax /Dmin ) oblongness of grains; DFeret(max) ) mean maximum Feret diameter, Dferet(min) ) mean minimum Feret diameter.

Structural Changes in Magnesium Alloy MA14 under the Action of Process Factors

Fig. 4. Microstructure of MA14 alloy after upsetting at 370 (a, b ),

400 (c) and 450C (d ). Recrystallized grains at different growth
stages are colored with yellow and
blue, the other area is attributed to
non-recrystallized structure ( 600).

595

10 mm

10 mm

10 mm

10 mm

model pressed preformed with deep ribbing, the geometric

shape of which allowed us to study the structure and the level
of mechanical characteristics in four directions, i.e., X, Y, V, Z
(see Fig. 1 and Table 3). The highest strength properties were
determined in directions Z and X and the lowest one were determined in direction V. The strength properties of the model
pressed preforms were stable; their scattering for each studied direction did not exceed 5%. The anisotropy of the ultimate rupture strength and, what is especially important, of
the yield strength was also not high and did not exceed
7 12%, including the case of comparison of properties in
directions Z and V, X and V.

It should be noted that the anisotropy of the yield

strength (the most structurally sensitive characteristic) in
pressed semiproducts from alloy MA14 fabricated by the
conventional process is usually 40 50%. Thus, in commercial pressed preforms from alloy MA14 the yield strength in
the direction transverse to the axis of deformation is
40 50% lower than that in the longitudinal direction.
The ductility margin in the model pressed preforms is
preserved at a stably good level; the elongation is 10 13%
for all the studied specimens in whatever direction they have
been cut (Table 3).
The decrease in the anisotropy and the stabilization of
mechanical properties of the model pressed preforms in our

TABLE 2. Geometric Characteristics of Recrystallized Grains in Specimens of Alloy MA14 (after the First Stage of Deformation)
tups , C

370

Grain category
according
to averaged size*

Fine
Coarse

400

Fine
Coarse

450

Fine
Coarse

Dg , mm

Dc , mm

Dmax /Dmin

DFeret(max) , mm

Dferet(min) , mm

5.1 0.18

4.5 0.16

1.53 0.03

6.1 0.22

4.1 0.15

21.2 0.79

18.2 0.70

1.58 0.041

25.3 0.92

17.0 0.72

6.7 0.14

5.9 0.12

1.55 0.02

8.0 0.17

5.3 0.11

24.3 1.09

20.2 0.88

1.73 0.06

30.4 1.45

18.2 0.92

7.2 0.12

6.4 0.10

1.61 0.02

8.8 0.16

5.6 0.10

30.6 0.99

26.0 0.81

1.71 0.04

37.9 1.25

23.3 0.83

We agree that the fine grains have a mean diameter 10 mm and the coarse grains have a mean diameter > 10 mm.

Notations: tups ) temperature of upsetting; Dg ) mean grain diameter; Dc ) diameter of the circle of the equivalent area;
Dmax /Dmin ) oblongness of grains; DFeret(max) ) mean maximum Feret diameter; DFeret(min) ) mean minimum Feret diameter.

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E. F. Volkova et al.

TABLE 3. Mechanical Properties of Model Pressed Preforms from

Alloy MA14 (Optimum Deformation Mode)

10 mm

Direction of cutting of
the specimen (in accordance with Fig. 1)

sr , MPa

s0.2 , MPa

d, %

X
Y
Z
V

290 298
282 286
298 300
276 289

235 238
230 236
230 234
229 230

11 13
11 14
10 14
11 14

Note. We present minimum and maximum values of each characteristic after testing 5 specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

10 mm

Fig. 5. Microstructure of a model die forging directed (according to

Fig. 1) in Y (a) and V (b ) ( 600).

case are explainable by the structural changes that have occurred in alloy MA14 due to isothermal deformation in a
state close to that of superplastic flow. We have established
that the microstructure formed at specific deformation parameters is primarily recrystallized and fine-grained and
does not contain streak segregations commonly observed in
the alloy subjected to deformation by the standard technology. The volume fraction of the recrystallized grains is close
to 90%, the mean grain diameter is about 7.5 mm, the minimum and maximum Feret diameters of the recrystallized
grains have decreased to 5 and 15 mm respectively (see
Fig. 5).
This kind of microstructure is observed in specimens cut
from pressed preforms of alloy MA14 in all the studied directions including directions Y and V characterized by the
highest difference in the yield strength and in the ultimate
rupture strength but not, however, exceeding 10 12% (Table 3).
The results obtained agree well with the data of our previous studies [2, 5].

1. Alloy MA14 deformed at a temperature 370C with

deformation degree 50% undergoes active recrystallization
as a result of which the volume fraction of recrystallized
grains may exceed 50%.
2. We have developed a process cycle including twostage deformation and intermediate heat treatment, which
yields complex-configuration pressed preforms from alloy
MA14. The process provides stabilization of the mechanical
properties of the alloy and simultaneously lowers the anisotropy of the properties to 7 12%.
3. The optimum combination of properties in model
pressed preforms from alloy MA14 produced by the suggested process cycle is a result of the formed structure characterized by equiaxed and fine grains (the mean grain size is
about 7.5 mm) in the directions along and across the fibers.
REFERENCES
1. E. F. Volkova and G. I. Morozova, Structure-phase state and
properties of zirconium-bearing magnesium alloy MA14, Metalloved. Term. Obrab. Met., No. 1, 24 28 (2006).
2. E. F. Volkova, Effect of deformation and heat treatment on the
structure and properties of magnesium alloys of the Mg Zn Zr
system, Metalloved. Term. Obrab. Met., No. 11, 38 42 (2006).
3. R. S. Jefkins, Mechanisms of superplastic strain, in: Superplastic Forming of Structural Alloys [in Russian translation],
Metallurgiya, Moscow (1985), pp. 11 36.
4. N. G. Zaripov and R. O. Kaibyshev, Dynamic recrystallization
and superplasticity of magnesium alloys. Superplasticity and
superplastic forming, TMS, 91 95 (1988).
5. E. F. Volkova and N. V. Moiseev, Special features of deformation of high-strength magnesium alloys in the mode of superplasticity, in: E. N. Kablov (ed.), Aircraft Materials and Technologies, Issue Promising Magnesium and Titanium Alloys [in
Russian], VIAM, Moscow (2002), pp. 136 142.