Microstructures and mechanical properties of pure Mg processed by rotary swaging

•Grain size of pure Mg can be effectively reduced by rotary swaging processing.•The dominated texture of the swaged pure Mg was a basal fibre.•Twinning and non-basal plane sliding accommodated the swaging process.•Gradient texture distribution was observed through the rod diameter.•There existed a slight shear deformation on the surface of the swaged rod.

Microstructures and tensile properties of commercial pure magnesium processed by rotary swaging (RS) technique were investigated. Bulk and gradient textures in the RS processed Mg were characterised by neutron and synchrotron diffractions, respectively. Grains of the pure Mg were gradually refined with increase in the RS passes, which largely contributed to an increase in the tensile yield strength. A dominated basal fibre texture was observed in the RS processed pure Mg. Accommodated twinning deformation was also observed. Both the optical observations and texture analyses through the diameter of the swaged rod showed a gradient evolution in microstructure.