Effect of extrusion ratio on microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of indirectly extruded Mg–Zn–Ca alloy

Indirect extrusion of as-cast Mg–5.25 Zn–0.6 Ca (wt%) alloy was performed at 300 °C with different extrusion ratios (ER, 20:1 and 10:1), and the microstructure, texture and tensile properties of the as-extruded alloys were investigated in the current study. With the increase of ER, the volume fraction of DRXed grains was remarkably increased, but the average DRXed grains size was almost unchanged. The basal texture weakening phenomenon occurred in the as-extruded alloy with higher ER, which resulted from the higher volume fraction of the DRXed grain. Intensive basal fiber texture was observed in the unDRXed grains, but the basal planes of the DRXed grains were inclined to ED from 0° to 35°. The ER had only little effect on the tensile properties of the as-extruded alloys; due to the similar strengthening effect from the unDRXed and DRXed grains, a competitive mechanism exists between the fine grain strengthening and texture weakening effect.