The tensile ductility of this alloy, when pre-strained by using warm equal channel angular extrusion, was investigated at 300C. It was shown that significant ductility (262%) at a strain rate of 3 x 10-3/s could be achieved by using this technique. The effect of pre-straining by warm equal channel angular extrusion upon twinning under room-temperature deformation was also investigated. It was shown that a bi-modal grain structure, whose characteristics were determined by the equal channel angular extrusion route, number of passes and temperature, had a marked effect upon the tendency to twinning, and upon the mechanical properties; including ductility.

The Effect of Warm Equal Channel Angular Extrusion on Ductility and Twinning in Magnesium Alloy ZK60. R.Lapovok, P.F.Thomson, R.Cottam, Y.Estrin: Materials Transactions, 2004, 45[7], 2192-9