Predicting the variation of the exit temperature with the initial billet temperature during extrusion to produce an AZ31 profile

The extrusion process to produce a cross-shaped profile of a wrought magnesium alloy AZ31 was simulated to predict the exit temperature as a function of the initial billet temperature. Three-dimensional FE simulation revealed the evolutions of temperature and extrusion pressure during the process. The initial billet temperature was found to have a stronger influence on the breakthrough pressure than ram speed. It also played an important role in determining the exit temperature and the temperature rise during the process, especially when ram speed was high. At a given ram speed, the relationship between the temperature rise and the initial billet temperature was found to be linear. Such a relationship could be used as guidelines to optimize the extrusion process and to maximize its throughput.