Deformation behavior and constitutive model for dual-phase Mg–Li alloy at elevated temperatures
In order to study the deformation behavior and evaluate the workability of the dual-phase Mg–9Li–3Al–2Sr alloy, isothermal hot compression tests were conducted using the Gleeble–3500 thermal-mechanical simulator, in ranges of elevated temperatures (423–573 K) and strain rates (0.001–1 s−1). Plastic instability is evident during the deformation which is in the form of serrated flow; serrated yielding is attributed to the locking of mobile dislocations by the Mg and Li atoms which diffuse during the deformation. The relationships between flow stress, strain rate and deformation temperature were analyzed and the deformation activation energy and some basic material factors at different strains were calculated using the Arrhenius equation. The effects of temperature and strain rate on deformation behavior were represented using the Zener-Hollomon parameter in an exponent-type equation. To verify the validity of the constitutive model, the predicted values and experimental flow curves under different deformation conditions were compared, the correlation coefficient (0.9970) and average absolute relative error (AARE=4.41%) were calculated. The results indicate that the constitutive model can be used to accurately predict the flow behavior of dual-phase Mg–9Li–3Al–2Sr alloy during high temperature deformation.