Deformation mechanisms and recrystallization behavior of Mg-3Al-1Zn and Mg-1Gd alloys deformed by electroplastic-asymmetric rolling

AZ31 Mg and Mg-1Gd alloys were subjected to electroplastic rolling (ER) and electroplastic-asymmetric rolling (EASR). Due to the additional shear stress in EASR, different deformation behaviors, including twinning, dislocations and DRX, were witnessed in EASR. For AZ31, significant grain refinement was achieved in the EASR sample. The refined grains with weakened texture contributed to the largely enhanced tensile ductility of the EASR sample. While for Mg-1Gd, the formation of extension twins was booming and propagated throughout the EASR sample, which was considered to be attributed to the high participation of non-basal slip during deformation. Extension twins and their related recrystallization strongly influenced the texture evolution and mechanical properties of the EASR sample, so that both the tensile ductility and strength of the EASR sample were improved.