Dynamic testing at high strain rates of an ultrafine-grained magnesium alloy processed by ECAP

A ZK60 magnesium alloy was processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 473 K to produce a grain size of ∼0.8 μm and it was then tested under dynamic conditions at strain rates up to 4.0 × 103 s−1 using a split-Hopkinson bar. The stress–strain curves in dynamic testing exhibited upwards concave curvature suggesting the occurrence of twinning. Examination by transmission electron microscopy showed that dislocation slip played a major role in the flow behavior with dislocation accumulation as the main source of work hardening. An identification of Burgers vectors revealed the extensive presence of prismatic dislocations. Rod-shaped Mg1(Zn,Zr)1 precipitates present in the as-received alloy become fragmented and overaged during ECAP.