Influence of constraint condition on rolling behavior of magnesium alloy at low temperatures

Influence of constraint condition on rolling behavior of a magnesium alloy sheet at low temperature was investigated by embedding the magnesium alloy sheet within a block of an aluminum alloy having a higher strength. Magnesium alloy sheets rolled with the aluminum alloy block exhibited better rolling capability at a low temperature of 373 K than the sheets rolled without the block. The constraint placed on the magnesium alloy sheet by the aluminum alloy block impedes the initiation of edge cracks in the sheet during rolling by reducing the tensile stress generated along the rolling direction near the edge region of the magnesium alloy sheet. In addition, the constraint develop compressive stress along the transverse direction in the magnesium alloy sheet, which causes tensile twin and rotates the basal texture of the sheet to an orientation that is more capable of accommodating deformations along the normal direction. It is for these reasons that the embedded magnesium alloy sheet exhibits an improved rolling capability.