Characteristics of the Microstructure and Properties of Mg-Li Magnesium Alloy after Deformation by the KoBo Method

The article presents the results of tests of plastic shaping of magnesium alloy Mg-Li. Magnesium alloy for an extrusion process was obtained with the method of vacuum smelting and casting into graphite moulds. The materials for tests were slabs cast from magnesium alloys with symbols: Mg-4%Li-1%Ca (LX41). Before the process of deformation the castings were subject to homogenization. Conventional extrusion tests were conducted in a complex state of deformation (KoBo method). An assessment was performed of the influence of the deformation process parameters on the structure and properties of the tested alloy. Results of mechanical tests were presented both for static compression test in room temperature. On the basis of the achieved tests results, the susceptibility to plastic working for the Mg-4%Li-1%Ca alloy was determined. An analysis of the microstructure was conducted both in the initial condition and after plastic deformation with the use of light and scanning microscopy techniques. The applied deformation methods allowed the determination of the influence of process parameters on changes in the microstructure and properties of the Mg-4%Li-1%Ca alloy.