Investigation of post-superplastic forming properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy

In the metal forming industry, most of the efforts are directed towards materials and process development, with little attention paid to the properties of the formed components. In Superplastic Forming (SPF), the issue of post-forming properties is particularly important because of the large plastic deformation, significant microstructural changes, and exposure to elevated temperatures for prolonged periods of time. In this work, a detailed experimental study on the mechanical and microstructural properties of superplastically-formed AZ31 magnesium alloy is presented. The results clearly show the necessity to integrate post-superplastic forming analysis with material and process development for SPF optimization.