A comparative study of texture and ductility of Mg–1.2Zn–0.8Gd alloy fabricated by rolling and equal channel angular extrusion

This study aims to characterize and compare the texture and mechanical property of Mg–1.2Zn–0.8Gd alloy fabricated by hot rolling and equal channel angular extrusion, respectively. A non-basal texture with basal poles splitting about ± 42° from normal direction towards transverse direction was observed in the rolled Mg–1.2Zn–0.8Gd alloy, while a texture consisting of a non-basal texture component with basal poles tilting about 38° to the extrusion directions as well as a basal texture component was observed in the equal channel angular extruded sample. High elongations of about 45% and high strain hardening behavior were found not only in the equal channel angular extruded sample but also in the rolled sample. The high ductility is attributed to the easy activation of basal slip and the {10–12} twining due to the non-basal texture.