Analyses of Plastic Flow and Die Design during Hot Extrusion of Magnesium Alloy Strips

This study involves analyses and experiments of hot extrusion of magnesium alloy strips. Hot compression tests were firstly conducted to obtain the magnesium alloy’s plastic flow stresses at high temperatures. These data are used in the finite element simulations of the thin strip extrusion process. Using the FE simulations, the flow pattern of the magnesium alloy billet within the die, the temperature variation and the thickness distribution at the die exit were analyzed. The effects of different die bearing height design, initial billet temperatures and ram speed on the extrusion load, the temperature at the die exit and the product thickness distribution were also discussed. Finally, hot extrusion experiments were conducted and the experimental values of the extrusion load and dimensions of the products were compared with the analytical values to validate the analytical model. Sound products were obtained using the best designed bearing heights and other appropriate extrusion conditions.