The tensile performance of a novel dilute Mg-Ca-Y-Zn-Mn alloy processed by rapidly solidified ribbon consolidation (RSRC) technique was investigated in situ by X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. Moreover, the same study was performed on specimens annealed at 300 and 400 °C for 2 h after RSRC processing. It was found that annealing at 300 °C had no considerable influence on the microstructure and, thus, on the tensile performance. On the other hand, the heat treatment at 400 °C yielded an increase in the recrystallized material fraction and the average grain size, coarsening of the secondary Mg₂Ca phase particles as well as a decrease in the intensity of (1010] fiber texture. The latter effect caused twinning during tension which contributed to the increase in strain hardening with increasing strain. Due to the texture, mostly non-basal dislocations developed during tensile testing. The interaction between the dominant prismatic dislocations can result in immobile dislocations, which can contribute to the enhanced hardening observed at higher strains.
Gubicza et al. (Wed,) studied this question.