Feasibility of high strain-rate rolling of a magnesium alloy across a wide temperature range

High strain-rate rolling (HSRR) was successfully used to produce Mg-6.0 Zn-0.5 Zr sheets at 250-400 degrees C. All the sheets have ultrafine-grained structures and exhibit excellent strength and ductility. Extensive deformation twinning, production of high-density dislocations in twins, subsequent continuous dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and discontinuous DRX contribute to the feasibility of HSRR and to the ultrafine-grained structures. The excellent mechanical properties are ascribed to the ultrafine grains, low dislocation density and weakened basal texture in the final structure. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.