Materials Science Forum, Vol.437-4, 435-438, 2003
Evaluation on the formability of magnesium alloy, AZ31
Magnesium is known to have poor formability at room temperature, mainly attributed to its hexagonal lattice structure. This paper presents the findings generated from development of warm forming to produce thin-walled magnesium components. Finite element analysis was conducted to evaluate the formability of the material and the simulated results were compared to the tensile results and product formability. Tensile tests were used to verify the formability of the sheet metal at difference temperatures. The process parameters considered in the feasibility study were forming temperature, in the range of 28degreesC to 300degreesC and magnesium sheet (AZ31B-H24) thickness, in the range of 0.4 mm to 1 mm. Magnesium hand phone covers of a thickness down to 0.4 nun have been successfully produced. The feasible forming temperature was found to be between 200degreesC and 250degreesC. Metallograhic examination shows evident of recrystallisation when the magnesium sheets are formed at evaluated temperature.