Microstructure and deformation mechanism of Mg6Al1ZnA alloy experienced tension–compression cyclic loading

Microstructural characterizations were performed on thin walled tubular samples of extruded Mg6Al1ZnA (AZ61A) magnesium alloy that had experienced room temperature fatigue testing. The results show that the initial basal texture and loading amplitude/direction affect the deformation mechanism and microstructural features of AZ61A. Twinning activates under compression when the stress is ∼120 MPa and the strain is ∼0.005. With the strain amplitude is higher than 0.005, twinning–detwinning is the dominant deformation mechanism and residual twins change the grain crystallographic orientation and weaken the texture.