Mechanistic understanding on the contribution to high strength in a three-directional severe plastic deformed biodegradable magnesium alloy.

The objective of the study described here is to elucidate grain refinement and precipitation that contributed to high strength in a three-directional (x-, y-, and z-axis) compressive severe plastic deformation of a biodegradable magnesium alloy. The study of the alloy by electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) in a scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscopy underscored that dynamic recrystallization and dynamic precipitation mechanisms occurred during processing such that an ultrafine/fine-grained structure with random orientation of grains and high density of nanoscale precipitates were obtained, contributing to high strain hardening rate.