In this study, the microstructural evolution and single magnesium cell deformation behaviour of extruded Mg–6Zn–0.6Zr alloy were investigated along the extrusion direction with strain rate at 1800 s−1 using a split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus. The microstructural evolution and deformation mechanism were studied by X-ray diffraction, electron back scatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Analysis of the microstructural evolution shows that
<10
0> tension twinning and (0001)<11
0> basal plane slip were dominant when the strain was less than 6%, and
<11
3> pyramidal plane<c+a> slip was the major deformation mechanism when the strain exceeded 6%. In particular, the transformation process of single magnesium crystal cell during deformation was studied in detail.
LiuZDongYMaoPLDynamic tensile and compressive properties of vacuum and ordinary die-casting AT72 magnesium alloy at high strain rates. J M Alloys. 2013; 1(2):150–162.
2.
MaoPLLiuZWangCY.Texture effect on high strain rates tension and compression deformation behavior of extruded AM30 alloy. Mater Sci Eng A. 2012; 539:13–21.
3.
TangWRLiuSMLiuZHigh strain rate compression deformation mechanism and constitutive equation of fine grained Mg-7Gd-5Y-1.2Nd-0.5Zr alloy at different temperatures. Mater Sci Eng A. 2020; 780:139208.
4.
ZachariahZTatipartiSSVMishraSKTension-compression asymmetry in an extruded Mg alloy AM30: temperature and strain rate effects. Mater Sci Eng A. 2013; 572:8–18.
5.
WangZCaoGSYaoSDynamic compressive behavior and microstructural evolution of extrusion-shear deformed ZC61 alloy. Mater Sci Tech. 2020; 36:1148–1161.
6.
YangYQLiBCZhangZM.Flow stress of wrought magnesium alloys during hot compression deformation at medium and high temperatures. Mater Sci Eng A. 2009; 499(1–2):238–241.
7.
WangYNHuangJC.Texture analysis in hexagonal materials. Mater Chem Phys. 2003; 81(1):11–26.
8.
ShiBQChengYQYanHHall-Petch relationship, twinning responses and their dependences on grain size in the rolled Mg-Zn and Mg-Y alloys. Mater Sci Eng A. 2018; 743:558–566.
9.
ProustGToméCNJainAModeling the effect of twinning and detwinning during strain-path changes of magnesium alloy AZ31. Int J Plast. 2009; 25(5):861–880.
10.
BarnettMR.Twinning and the ductility of magnesium alloys. Mater Sci Eng A. 2007; 464(1–2):1–7.
11.
DixitNXieKYHemkerKJMicrostructural evolution of pure magnesium under high strain rate loading. Acta Mater. 2015; 87:56–67.
12.
XuNSongQNBaoYF. twinning assisted microstructure and mechanical properties modification of high-force fiction stir processed AZ31B Mg alloy. Mater Sci Eng A. 2019; 745:400–403.
13.
YooMHAgnewSRMorrisJRNon-basal slip systems in HCP metals and alloys: source mechanisms. Mater Sci Eng A. 2001; 319:87–92.
14.
HouDWLiuTMShiDFStudy of twinning behaviors of rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy by interrupted in situ compressive tests. Mater Sci Eng A. 2016; 653:108–114.
15.
SongGSChenQQZhangSHDeformation micro-mechanism for compression of magnesium alloys at room temperature analyzed by electron backscatter diffraction. Mater Des. 2015; 65:534–542.
16.
HongSGParkSHLeeCS.Role of twinning characteristics in the deformation behavior of a polycrystalline magnesium alloy. Acta Mater. 2010; 58(18):5873–5885.
17.
BarnettMRGhaderiARobsonJD.Contribution of twinning to low strain deformation in a Mg alloy. Metall Mater Trans A. 2013; 45(8):3213–3221.
18.
KangFLiZWangJTThe activation of <c + a > non-basal slip in magnesium alloys. J Mater Sci. 2012; 47(22):7854–7859.
19.
OnoNNowakRMiuraS.Effect of deformation temperature on Hall-Petch relationship registered for polycrystalline magnesium. Mater Lett. 2004; 58(1–2):39–43.
20.
WangMXuXYWangHYEvolution of dislocation and twin densities in a Mg alloy at quasi-static and high strain rates. Acta Mater. 2020; 201:102–113.
21.
LiLMuránskyOFlores-JohnsonEAEffects of strain rate on the microstructure evolution and mechanical response of magnesium alloy AZ31. Mater Sci Eng A. 2017; 684:37–46.
22.
ZhangFLiuZYangMMMicroscopic mechanism exploration and constitutive equation construction for compression characteristics of AZ31-TD magnesium alloy at high strain rate. Mater Sci Eng A. 2019; 771:138571.
23.
MaoPLLiuZWangCYStudy of the microstructure of AZ31B magnesium alloy under high strain rate deformation. Mater Sci Forum. 2011; 686:325–331.
24.
WangZYaoSCaoGSDynamic compressive behaviour and microstructural evolution of extrusion-shear Mg-6Zn-1Cu-1Y-0.6Zr alloy. Mater Sci Tech. 2019; 35(12):1–11.
25.
AsgariHSzpunarJAOdeshiAEffect of grain size on high strain rate deformation of rolled Mg-4Y-3RE alloy in compression. Mater Sci Eng A. 2015; 633:92–102.
26.
BarnettMRKeshavarzZBeerAGNon-Schmid behaviour during secondary twinning in a polycrystalline magnesium alloy. Acta Mater. 2008; 56(1):5–15.
27.
XiongYYuQJiangYY.Deformation of extruded ZK60 magnesium alloy under uniaxial loading in different material orientations. Mater Sci Eng A. 2018; 710:206–213.
28.
PahlevanpourAHBehraveshSBAdibnazariSCharacterization of anisotropic behaviour of ZK60 extrusion under stress-control condition and notes on fatigue modeling. Int J Fatigue. 2019; 127:101–109.
29.
DuYZZhengMYGeYFMicrostructure and texture evolution of deformed Mg-Zn alloy during recrystallization. Mater Charact. 2018; 145:501–506.
30.
XiongYYuQJiangYY.An experimental study of cyclic plastic deformation of extruded ZK60 magnesium alloy under uniaxial loading at room temperature. Int J Plast. 2014; 53:107–124.
31.
JiangJMWuJNiSImproving the mechanical properties of a ZM61 magnesium alloy by pre-rolling and high strain rate rolling. Mater Sci Eng A. 2018; 712:478–484.
32.
GehrmannRFrommertMMGottsteinG.Texture effects on plastic deformation of magnesium. Mater Sci Eng A. 2005; 395(1–2):338–349.
33.
WangBNWangFWangZMicrostructure and mechanical properties of Mg-Zn-Ca-Zr alloy fabricated by hot extrusion-shearing process. Mater Sci Eng A. 2020; 795:139937.
34.
UlaciaIDudamellNVGálvezFMechanical behavior and microstructural evolution of a Mg AZ31 sheet at dynamic strain rates. Acta Mater. 2010; 58(8):2988–2998.
35.
JiangLJonasJJLuoAATwinning-induced softening in polycrystalline AM30 Mg alloy at moderate temperatures. Scr Mater. 2006; 54(5):771–775.
36.
RodriguezAKAyoubGAMansoorBEffect of strain rate and temperature on fracture of magnesium alloy AZ31B. Acta Mater. 2016; 112:194–208.
37.
LentzMRisseMSchaeferNStrength and ductility with double twinning in a magnesium alloy. Nat Commun. 2016; 7:11068.
38.
WangMLuLLiCDeformation and spallation of a magnesium alloy under high strain rate loading. Mater Sci Eng A. 2016; 661:126–131.
<10
0> tension twinning and (0001)<11
0> basal plane slip were dominant when the strain was less than 6%, and 
<11
3> pyramidal plane<c+a> slip was the major deformation mechanism when the strain exceeded 6%. In particular, the transformation process of single magnesium crystal cell during deformation was studied in detail.
twinning assisted microstructure and mechanical properties modification of high-force fiction stir processed AZ31B Mg alloy
twinning characteristics in the deformation behavior of a polycrystalline magnesium alloy
double twinning in a magnesium alloy