C.A. Sager

Bio: C.A. Sager is an academic researcher from Queen's University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ultimate tensile strength & Yield (engineering). The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 108 citations.

Effects of heat treatment on microstructure and tensile deformation of Mg AZ80 alloy at room temperature

Abstract: The plasticity of coarse and grain-refined Mg AZ80 alloys in the as-cast, γ-dissolved and homogenized states was investigated by specialized tensile testing at room temperature. Results indicate that microstructural parameters such as the activation volume and mean free path are important descriptors for these materials and capture the nature of the solute and second phase effect on strength and ductility. The as-cast alloys contain a microstructure consisting of α-Mg matrix, and divorced eutectic α-Mg/γ-Mg17Al12 phase with non-uniform Al solute content in the α-Mg. Dissolution of the majority of γ-phase occurs after annealing 5 h at 420 °C, and an almost uniform solid solution is obtained after 20 h at 420 °C. The yield strength is dependent upon the volume fraction of γ-phase and grain size. All alloys yield initially by basal slip and they exhibit different work hardening behaviour. The as-cast alloys show the fastest initial hardening and earliest saturation, and ultimately the lowest ductility. In contrast the solutionized alloys show a lower initial work hardening rate that is sustained, and enhanced ductility. The flow stress dependence of the strain rate sensitivity indicates that dynamical recovery processes associated with the dislocation–dislocation interactions, which develop in the as-cast alloys after small amount of deformation, lead to strain localizations and early failure. Results reveal that reducing the grain size and dissolving the γ-phase will enhance the ductility of AZ80 at room temperature.

Mechanistic origin and prediction of enhanced ductility in magnesium alloys.

Abstract: Pure magnesium exhibits poor ductility owing to pyramidal [Formula: see text] dislocation transformations to immobile structures, making this lowest-density structural metal unusable for many applications where it could enhance energy efficiency. We show why magnesium can be made ductile by specific dilute solute additions, which increase the [Formula: see text] cross-slip and multiplication rates to levels much faster than the deleterious [Formula: see text] transformation, enabling both favorable texture during processing and continued plastic straining during deformation. A quantitative theory establishes the conditions for ductility as a function of alloy composition in very good agreement with experiments on many existing magnesium alloys, and the solute-enhanced cross-slip mechanism is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy observations in magnesium-yttrium. The mechanistic theory can quickly screen for alloy compositions favoring conditions for high ductility and may help in the development of high-formability magnesium alloys.

Recrystallization mechanism of as-cast AZ91 magnesium alloy during hot compressive deformation

Abstract: Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior of as-cast AZ91 magnesium alloy during hot compression at 300 °C and the strain rate of 0.2 s−1 was systematically investigated by electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) analysis. Twin DRX and continuous DRX (CDRX) are observed in grains and near grain boundaries, respectively. Original coarse grains are firstly divided by primary { 1 0 1 ¯ 2 } tensile twins and { 1 0 1 ¯ 1 } compression twins, and then { 1 0 1 ¯ 1 }–{ 1 0 1 ¯ 2 } double twins are rapidly propagated within these primary compression twins with increasing compressive strain. Some twin-walled grains are formed by the mutual crossing of twins or by the formation of the { 1 0 1 ¯ 1 }–{ 1 0 1 ¯ 2 } double twins and furthermore, subgrains divided by low-grain boundaries in the double twins are also formed. Finally, DRXed grains are formed by the in situ evolution of the subgrains with the growth of low-angle boundaries to high-angle grain boundaries in twins. CDRX around the eutectic Mg17Al12 phases at grain boundaries occurs together with the precipitation of discontinuous Mg17Al12 phase and the fragmentation of the precipitates during compression. The discontinuous fragmented precipitates distribute at the newly formed CDRXed grain boundaries and have remarkable pinning effect on the CDRXed grain growth, resulting in the average grain size of about 1.5 μm.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg–Al–Ca alloys affected by Ca/Al ratio

Abstract: The Mg–Ca alloys with 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 5 wt% Al content were fabricated in this paper. After be extruded at 673 K with the ratio of 16:1, the microstructures and mechanical properties of the alloys influenced by Ca/Al ratio were investigated.Results showed that the category and amount of precipitated secondary phase were influenced obviously by Ca/Al ratio, which changed from Mg2Ca and (Mg, Al)2Ca to Al2Ca as the Ca/Al ratio decreased from 1 to 0.4. Even though the secondary phase was cracked after the application of hot extrusion, the amount, size and distribution of secondary phase were strongly dependent on Ca/Al ratio. The basal plane texture was found in all the as-extruded alloys, the I(10 1 ¯ 0 )/I(10 1 ¯ 1) and I(0002)/I(10 1 ¯ 1) values demonstrated different changing tendencies with the variation of Ca/Al ratio. All the UTS, elongation and strain hardening rate of the as-extruded alloys increased with decreasing Ca/Al ratio, however, the YS exhibited the inverse variation tendency. A significant stagnation point was found in the θ-(σ-σ0.2) curve as the Ca/Al ratio is 1, which becomes unobvious with decreasing Ca/Al ratio. The reasons are given and analyzed.

Effect of Mg17Al12 precipitates on the microstructural changes and mechanical properties of hot compressed AZ91 magnesium alloy

Abstract: During hot compression, Mg17Al12 (β) precipitates show strong influence on the microstructural changes of 415 °C-24 h homogenized AZ91 alloy. When compressed at 300 °C and 350 °C, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) only occurs near grain boundaries with discontinuous β precipitate pinning at the newly DRXed grain boundaries. With increasing compression temperature and decreasing strain rate, the β-precipitating region expands; however, the amount of pinning precipitates decreases, resulting in increases in the DRX ratio and average DRXed grain size. With a compression ratio of only 50%, the specimen compressed at 350 °C and a strain rate of 0.2 s−1 (designated 350 °C-0.2 s−1 compressed specimen) shows an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 334 MPa, a 0.2% proof stress (PS) of 195 MPa and an enough elongation of 17.9%. After a subsequent aging treatment at 180 °C, due to the large number of β precipitates, the strength of the compressed specimens are further improved, and the specimen peak aged after compression at 400 °C and 0.2 s−1 shows UTS of 364 MPa and PS of 248 MPa with a moderate elongation of 7.7%.