Texture Engineering of Wrought Mg Alloys: A Review

Crystallographic texture plays a critical role in governing the deformation behavior, mechanical anisotropy, yield asymmetry, and formability of wrought magnesium (Mg) alloys owing to the strong orientation dependence of slip and twinning in their hexagonal close-packed crystal structure. Conventional rolling and extrusion processes typically generate strong basal textures, which enhance directional strength but restrict room-temperature formability and promote tension-compression yield asymmetry. Consequently, texture engineering has emerged as an effective strategy for improving the mechanical performance of Mg alloys. This review critically examines the mechanisms of texture formation and evolution during deformation and thermomechanical processing, and their influence on mechanical behavior. Recent advances in texture modification through rare-earth and non-rare-earth alloying, severe plastic deformation, differential speed rolling, multidirectional forging, electro-pulsing treatment, and strain-path-controlled pre-deformation are systematically discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on twin-assisted texture engineering, where controlled pre-straining and subsequent annealing effectively weaken basal textures and promote more homogeneous deformation. The review highlights that the most successful texture-engineering strategies arise from the synergistic interaction of deformation twinning, recrystallization, and controlled precipitation, enabling reduced anisotropy and enhanced strength–ductility synergy. Finally, key challenges and future opportunities are identified, including predictive processing–structure–property relationships, hybrid deformation routes, advanced characterization, and cost-effective alloy design. These insights provide a framework for the development of next-generation wrought Mg alloys with superior formability and mechanical performance for lightweight structural applications.