The effect of differential speed rolling on microstructure and mechanical properties of an AZ31 alloy sheet

Magnesium alloy AZ31, which processed by conventional rolling or extrusion, has high anisotropy of mechanical properties in its strength and elongation at room temperature. We compared the influence of differential speed rolling with conventional rolling process on microstructure and mechanical properties of commercial AZ31 sheet. Commercial AZ31 alloy sheets were processed with conventional and differential speed rolled with thickness reduction ratio of 30% at a various temperature. The elongation of AZ31 alloy, warm-rolled by differential speed rolling is larger than rolled by conventional rolling. Besides, grain size and distribution on microstructure of the conventional rolling were coarsely(similar to 30 mu m) and inhomogeneously but, that those of the differential speed rolling were fine(similar to 13 mu m) and homogeneously.