Abstract: Hot plastic deformation was conducted using a new solid die on a Mg-Mn-Ce magnesium alloy. The results of microstructural examination through OM and TEM show that the grain size is greatly refined from 45 μm to 1.1 μm with uniform distribution due to the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization. The grain refinement and high angle grain boundary formation improve the mechanical properties through tensile testing with the strain rate of 1.0×10−4 s−1 at room temperature and Vickers microhardness testing. The maximum values of tensile strength, elongation and Vickers microhardness are increased to 256.37 MPa, 17.69% and HV57.60, which are 21.36%, 133.80% and 20.50% more than those of the as-received Mg-Mn-Ce magnesium alloy, respectively. The SEM morphologies of tensile fractured surface indicate that the density and size of ductile dimples rise with accumulative strain increasing. The mechanism of microstructural evolution and the relationship between microstructure and mechanical property of Mg-Mn-Ce magnesium alloy processed by this solid die were also analyzed.

Key words: magnesium alloy; plastic deformation; grain refinement; microstructural evolution; mechanical property