| Abstract Scope |
The use of lightweight metals in structural applications has sparked renewed interest in Mg alloys, as they can offer high specific strengths. Under extreme, high-rate loading conditions, spall strength and dynamic strength determine functionality. In such applications, attempts to strengthen Mg alloys with precipitates may prove inadequate as second phase particles can act as void nucleation sites that lower spall strength. Therefore, we focus on grain refinement with a minimal number of precipitates, using a Mg-1Zn-0.2Ca (wt%) alloy as an alternative to precipitation strengthening. The alloy was processed via Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE), implementing multiple extrusion routes. We report the resulting microstructures as a function of route and number of passes, identifying the degree of recrystallization, grain refinement, and texture. We also describe the mechanical properties of the fully processed samples using small-scale, quasi-static tension tests, exploring improvements in strength and ductility. |