In this work, the generalized stacking fault energies (GSFEs) of {10-11} slip system in a wide range of Mg-X (X = Ag, Al, Bi, Ca, Dy, Er, Gd, Ho, Li, Lu, Mn, Nd, Pb, Sc, Sm, Sn, Y, Yb, Zn and Zr) binary alloys has been studied. The doping concentration in the doping plane and the Mg-X system is 12.5 at.% and 1.79 at.%, respectively. Two slip modes (slip mode I and II) were considered. For pure magnesium, these two slip modes are equivalent to each other. However, substituting a solute atom into the magnesium matrix will cause different effects on these two slip modes. Based on the calculated GSFEs, two design maps were constructed to predict solute effects on the behavior of the {10-11} dislocations. The design maps suggest that the addition of Ag, Al, Ca, Dy, Er, Gd, Ho, Lu, Nd, Sm, Y, Yb and Zn could facilitate the {10-11} dislocations.

Under compressive testing at 400 °C and a strain rate range of 0.05–5 s⁻¹, the hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of an as-cast (AC), as-extruded (with a bimodal grain structure (named as Ex-1) or a relatively uniform fine grain structure (Ex-2)) WE43 alloy have been investigated and compared. The results indicate that the AC sample exhibits the highest peak stress, while the Ex-2 sample has the lowest value. Within the AC material, fine grains were firstly formed along the pancake-like deformed grains (as a necklace structure). The necklace structure was also formed within the Ex-1 and Ex-2 materials at high strain rates of 0.5 and 5 s⁻¹. However, a lamellar structure that the coarse elongated grains divided by parallel boundaries was formed within the Ex-1 material. A relatively more homogeneous fine grain structure is achieved after a true strain of 1.0 within the Ex-2 material at a low strain rate of 0.05 s⁻¹. In addition, a discontinuous dynamic recrystallization mechanism by grain boundary bulging is found to occur. After a true strain of 1.2, a (0001) fiber texture, a typical rare earth (RE) texture, and a relatively random texture are formed within the AC, Ex-1, and Ex-2 WE43 alloy material, respectively.

AZ31 alloy ring was successfully processed by hot forging. The effects of effective strain and temperature distributions on the microstructure and the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of the ring were investigated. The effective strain distribution at the centre region is relatively uniform, while the temperature in or near the flash region is higher than the other regions. A refined but inhomogeneous microstructure is obtained in the ring. It shows that the larger the accumulated strain and the lower the temperature are, the finer and more homogeneous the microstructure will be achieved. The mechanical responses of the ring from different tensile directions differ greatly. The radial direction sample shows the lowest yield strength and the largest fracture elongation.