Systematic single pass rolling experiments were carried out at room temperature on extra low carbon steel by varying the roll diameter ratio between 1:1 to 1:2 and thickness reduction per pass in the range of 20–75%. The aim of this study was to define the conditions under which the rolling texture can transit into a shear texture. The consequences for grain fragmentation, tensile strength, recrystallization texture, and grain growth kinetics were also studied. It was found that in a certain range of thickness reduction per pass and asymmetric ratio, an effective rotation towards the shear texture takes place in conventional rolling. The value of the shear coefficient factor (shear strain rate/rolling strain rate) in asymmetric rolling depends on the selection of thickness reduction per pass. The measured value of shear coefficient was found to be independent of the number of passes used in asymmetric rolling. The consequence of arising shear textures is an acceleration of grain fragmentation. After rapid heat treatment, both tensile strength and recrystallization kinetics of asymmetric rolled sheets showed merits over the conventional rolling. Only the evolved Goss orientation from asymmetric conditions of deformation shows higher stability than any other preferred shear texture components after complete recrystallization.

A series of Mg–Y–Zn alloys with varying long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase fractions were prepared through control of alloy content, heat-treatment, and single-pass extrusion. The effect of LPSO phase volume fraction and microstructure refinement on the hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of ball-milled powders prepared from the extruded alloys was experimentally assessed. The hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics scaled with the LPSO phase volume fraction, though the results of this study suggest that the scaling is not linear. Variations in the LPSO phase fraction and alloy content did not alter the (de)hydrogenation equilibrium pressure, indicating there is no significant change in thermodynamics of hydrogenation. Hydrogen absorption experiments on thin foils made from the extruded Mg–Y–Zn alloy with a high LPSO phase fraction demonstrated that the LPSO structures decompose into Mg phase, lamellar Mg/Mg–Zn structures and YH₂ particles at hydrogen partial pressures sufficient to form YH₂. This study shows that the hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics in the Mg–Y–Zn alloys can be controlled by tailoring the LPSO phases using conventional metallurgical techniques. Graphical Abstract