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Abstract
In the present investigation, the microstructural characterisation of the AZ91 Mg alloy produced by spark plasma sintering (SPS), as well as the evaluation of its hot compression behaviour, has been performed. Based on the differential scanning calorimetry analyses of the starting powders, three SPS cycles are investigated, using temperatures of 400 and 450°C, and at 450°C with previous solubilisation soaking at 420°C. Despite different microstructural and hardness characteristics, the three alloys display similar hot compression behaviour. At 200°C, the formation of an unstable crack, which propagates at 45° with respect to the loading axis, is observed after the occurrence of the peak load. At higher testing temperatures, after reaching the peak stress, the flow stress decreases slowly with increased strain of ∼0·51. Such behaviour corresponds with the observation of an accelerated cracking due to the propagation of decohesions at the interparticle regions. Ultimately, SPS allowed for attainment of high relative density; however, the sintering degree of the materials was quite low.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Trento e Rovereto (Trento, Italy).