Microstructural heredity in rare-earth magnesium alloys under electropulsing

To objectively verify microstructural heredity in a rare-earth magnesium alloy during heat-treatment and deformation processes under pulsed current condition, we proposed a pulsed current method during homogenization and rolling processes. We then compared the macroscopic edge cracks, microstructures, and mechanical properties of sheets which were formed using pulsed homogenization (PH)/industrial homogenization (IH) followed by hot rolling (HR)/ electroplastic rolling (ER). The results showed that the PH + ER forming method produced an alloy with the most obviously enhanced deformation ability, with the tensile strength increasing from 145 MPa (IH + HR) to 266 MPa (PH + ER). Inside the PH + ER sample, the nonthermal and thermal effects of the pulsed current promoted atomic diffusion, regulating the proportion and morphology of the secondary phase, thereby improving the forming ability of the material.