Effect of homogenization annealing on internal residual stress distribution and texture in ME21 magnesium alloy extruded plates

Abstract

The distribution of residual stresses through thickness of 5 mm-thick ME21 magnesium alloy extruded plates was analyzed non-destructively using short-wavelength X-ray diffraction (SWXRD), and the effect of homogenization annealing before extrusion on the residual stress was discussed. The classic d0 method with an annealed stress-free reference specimen was employed to determine the residual stress of the extruded plates. The residual stress results showed that the gradient of residual stress in the transverse direction was larger than that of the extrusion direction. The homogenization process prior to extrusion weaken the formed sample's texture. The maximum residual stress of the as-extruded plate was reduced, and the residual stress distribution was homogenized. Key words: ME21 magnesium alloy, Homogenization annealing, Residual stress, Short-wavelength X-ray diffraction