High Performance Fine-Grained Biodegradable Mg-Zn-Ca Alloys Processed by Severe Plastic Deformation

The tensile strength, fatigue, and corrosion fatigue performance of the magnesium alloy ZX40 benefit strongly from hybrid deformation processing involving warm equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) at the first step and room temperature rotary swaging at the second. The general corrosion resistance improved as well, though to a lesser extent. The observed strengthening is associated with a combined effect of substantial microstructure refinement down to the nanoscale, reducing deformation twinning activity, dislocation accumulation, and texture transformation. The ultimate tensile strength and the endurance limit in the ultrafine-grained material reached or exceeded 380 and 120 MPa, respectively, which are remarkable values for this nominally low strength alloy.