Commercially available AZ31 magnesium alloy was four times extruded in an equal rectangular channel using three different routes (A, B, and C). Micro tensile deformation tests were performed at room temperature with the aim to reveal any plastic anisotropy developed during the extrusion. Samples for micro tensile experiments were cut from extruded billets in different orientations with respect to the pressing direction. Information about the microstructure of samples was obtained using the electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) technique. Deformation characteristics (yield stress, ultimate tensile stress and uniform elongation) exhibited significant anisotropy as a consequence of different orientations between the stress direction and texture and thus different deformation mechanisms.
Keywords: equal channel angular pressing; magnesium alloy; miniaturized tensile tests; processing route; slip systems; twinning.