Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–4.5Al–1.0Zn alloy sheets produced by twin roll casting and sequential warm rolling

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–4.5Al–1.0Zn (designated as AZ41M in short) alloy sheets produced by twin roll casting, sequential warm rolling and post annealing at 350 °C were studied in this paper. Microstructure of twin roll casting strip consisted of dendrite structure, eutectics and intermetallic compounds located in the interdendritic region. AZ41M alloy sheets showed higher strength and lower elongation after sequential warm rolling, while post annealing after warm rolling induced the decrease of strength and increase of elongation. This results in the balance of strength and elongation in AZ41M alloy sheets. The grain refinement during manufacturing processes was attributed to the formation of heavy shear bands, high dislocation density, twinning, and precipitates of Al2Ca/Mg2Ca or Al8Mn5 and the Ca dissolution into Mg17Al12 phase.