Isothermal forging of AZ91 reinforced with 10 vol.% silicon carbon particles

In the present study, 10 vol.% SiCp/AZ91 magnesium matrix composites are fabricated by stir casting. The as-cast ingots are cut into cylindrical billets, and then forged at 420 °C with different deformation amounts (40, 50, 60 and 80%) at a constant RAM speed of 15 mm/s. The results illustrate that the addition of SiC particles has significant influence on refining grain size and improving tensile strength of AZ91 matrix, however, weakening basal plane texture. After forging SiCp/AZ91 composites, the intensity of basal plane texture increases as deformation amount increases. The grain size of composite matrix grows up slightly as the deformation amount increased to 60%, and then it was refined obviously as the deformation amount continues to increase to 80%. The smaller deformation amount is propitious to improve particle distribution, while lager deformation amount promotes SiC particle agglomeration. Thus, the tensile strength increases as the deformation amount increases to 50%, however, it decreases as the deformation amount continues to increase to 80%.