Achieving high strength and high ductility in magnesium alloys using severe plastic deformation combined with low-temperature aging

A novel method of fabricating age-hardenable magnesium alloys with high strength and high ductility was developed using high-ratio differential speed rolling combined with low-temperature aging. The ultrafine-grained Mg–9Al–1Zn alloy processed by this technique exhibited a high yield stress of >400 MPa and tensile elongations of 12–14%. The high strength could be attributed to grain size and particle strengthening effects, while the high ductility could be attributed to weakening of the basal texture component.