In the present work, the microstructure and texture of a Mg–6.8Y–2.5Zn–0.4Zr sheet manufactured by twin-roll casting were investigated. The twin-roll cast state consisted of two apparent phases: the α-Mg matrix, which was made up of dobulites with an average grain size of approximately 50 µm and the LPSO (long-period stacking ordered) phase, which formed network-like precipitates along the grain boundaries. After twin-roll casting, annealing was carried out under conditions of different temperatures ranging from 450 °C to 525 °C and holding times between 2 h and 24 h. It was found that heat treatment led to the formation of a microstructure in which grains were apparent. Furthermore, it could be observed that high temperatures > 500 °C led to changes in the morphology of the LPSO structures. On one hand, the network-like structure dissolved while, on the other hand, both rodlike and blocky LPSO phases precipitated predominantly at the grain boundaries of the α-Mg matrix. This process was fostered by high temperatures and long holding times.

In the present work, the microstructure, texture, mechanical properties as well as hot deformation behavior of a Mg-2Zn-1Al-0.3Ca sheet manufactured by twin roll casting were investigated. The twin roll cast state reveals a dendritic microstructure with intermetallic compounds predominantly located in the interdendritic areas. The twin roll cast samples were annealed at 420 °C for 2 h followed by plane strain compression tests in order to study the hardening and softening behavior. Annealing treatment leads to the formation of a grain structure, consisting of equiaxed grains with an average diameter of approximately 19 µm. The twin roll cast state reveals a typical basal texture and the annealed state shows a weakened texture, by spreading basal poles along the transverse direction. The twin roll cast Mg-2Zn-1Al-0.3Ca alloy offers a good ultimate tensile strength of 240 MPa. The course of the flow curves indicate that dynamic recrystallization occurs during hot deformation. For the validity range from 250 °C to 450 °C as well as equivalent logarithmic strain rates from 0.01 s⁻¹ to 10 s⁻¹ calculated model coefficients are shown. The average activation energy for plastic flow of the twin roll cast and annealed Mg-2Zn-1Al-0.3Ca alloy amounts to 180.5 kJ/mol. The processing map reveals one domain with flow instability at temperatures above 370 °C and strain rates ranging from 3 s⁻¹ to 10 s⁻¹. Under these forming conditions, intergranular cracks arose and grew along the grain boundaries.

Magnesium alloys are primarily associated with complex forming mechanisms, which yield ductility at high temperatures. In sheet metal forming, high triaxiality stress states that favor the ductile damage mechanisms of void formation and growth are known to malleable metals. The formulation of coupled damage models has so far failed, due to the incomplete experimental determination of damage parameters for magnesium AZ31 thin sheet. A quantitative investigation was conducted to determine the ductile damage behavior of twin-roll cast, hot rolled, and annealed AZ31 thin sheet. Results on the mechanisms of void nucleation-, coalescence- and growth-rate were established at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 350 °C. In-situ tensile tests were carried out in a scanning electron microscope with three different specimen types: Simple tension specimens, notched specimens for high triaxiality stress state testing, and shear specimens. Through a comparative analysis of local strains measured by digital image correlation and local void volume fractions determined through post-mortem analysis of specimen cross-sections, GTN (Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman) model-based material parameters were determined by experiment, representing a novel departure in the magnesium research landscape. The procedure developed in this context should also be transferable to other metals in the form of thin sheets.