Mechanical properties and deformation behaviors of hexagonal Mg–Li alloys

•Linear sections exist in compression strain–stress curves of hexagonal Mg–Li alloys.•Compression twins after tension ones cause the gradient decrease of linear section.•Zn affects the solidification style and the texture of hexagonal Mg–Li alloy.

Mg–3Li and Mg–3Li–2Zn alloys were prepared by metal model casting method and extruded at 573 K with the extrusion ratio of 79, and samples of both cast alloys were also conducted to compression with ratios of 5% and 10%. Microstructures and mechanical properties were evaluated. The results showed that both the Zn element and the extruding were beneficial to microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg–3Li alloy. Zn addition has also affected the solidification style of the as-cast hexagonal Mg–Li alloy and resulted in the alteration of the texture. There was a descent of the gradient of the linear sections in each compressive strain–stress curve of the as-cast alloys at the strain of about 10%. This was attributed to the presentation of {10–11} compression twins, which presented after {10–12} tension twins.