Processing of wrought magnesium alloys to produce small tubes for biomedical applications: investigation about the extrusion process by a laboratory test rig

Two commercial ZM21 and AZ31B alloys were extruded into small-size tubes at 410°C and strain rate 2.78•10-3 s-1 by a laboratory hot-extrusion system. The series of tubes, with outer diameter in the range of 8-4 mm and inner diameter from 6 to 3 mm were investigated considering microstructure and texture analysis. The tubes featured a homogeneous and refined equiaxed grain structure since dynamic recrystallization was clearly observed during the extrusion process. A typical ‘basal’ type texture was detected in extruded tubes by using EBSD technique.