Unveiling the mechanical anisotropy and related deformation mechanisms of heterostructured Mg alloy laminate with unique texture feature

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2025-01, Vol.1010, p.177404, Article 177404
• Main Authors: Zhang, Junlei, Ye, Yongkang, Li, Zulai, Chen, Xiang, Wang, Weizhang, Huang, Guangsheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Deformation mechanisms; Extrusion; Mechanical anisotropy; Mg alloy laminate; Texture
• ISSN: 0925-8388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.177404

In this study, a well-bonded AZ31/ZK60/AZ31 sandwich-structured laminate was prepared using extrusion. Microstructural heterogeneities in grain size, precipitate phases, and texture were evident between the constituent layers. Tensile testing revealed significant mechanical anisotropy in the laminates along the extrusion direction (ED), transverse direction (TD), and 45° directions, with the 45° direction samples exhibiting the highest tensile ductility, while ED and TD samples showed similar high strength. In-situ electron backscatter diffraction and slip trace analysis indicated that the heterogeneities in grain size and precipitates had minimal influence on the mechanical anisotropy of the laminates. Instead, texture emerged as the primary influencing factor, as it affected the initiation difficulty of basal slip and extension twinning mechanisms in various directions, thereby influencing the deformation coordination between the successive layers and resulting in varied mechanical responses in different directions. •A heterostructured AZ31/ZK60/AZ31 laminate was well designed using extrusion process.•The designed laminate did not show significant additional strengthening but exhibited obvious mechanical anisotropy.•Mechanical anisotropy stemmed from differences in texture and coordinated deformation ability among constituent layers.