Effect of strain rate on deformation behaviour of a Mg–8.5Li–1Zn alloy sheet at room temperature

The formability of a two-phase Mg–8.5Li–1Zn alloy thin sheet at room temperature is investigated in this study. Uniaxial tension tests are carried out for various strain rates between 1.4×10−5 and 8.3×10−2 s−1, and the microstructural and textural changes during the tests are observed. The sheet has high formability at comparatively low strain rates. Maximum elongation amounts to 100%. However, ductility decreases with the increase in strain rate. Even at room temperature, the stress is also sensitive to the strain rate. It is clarified that the grains are divided into fine sub-grains without any obvious textural change at high strain rates, and that the grains are elongated with textural change mainly in the β phase at low strain rates.