Achieving high strength and good ductility in two new magnesium alloys by continuous equal-channel angular pressing

For load-bearing biodegradable implant applications, magnesium alloys must achieve an optimal balance between strength and ductility to ensure reliable mechanical performance. This study investigates the microstructure, texture evolution, and mechanical properties of LZXM2100 and WE22 magnesium alloys subjected to eight passes of continuous equal-channel angular pressing (C-ECAP). LZXM2100 developed a relatively heterogeneous fine-grained microstructure (3.39 ± \, ± 1.63 μm), while WE22 exhibited a homogeneous ultrafine-grained structure (0.74 ± 0.26 μm) as a result of efficient continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). Texture analysis indicated that LZXM2100 possessed a high-intensity B-fibre basal texture, with deformation primarily governed by basal slip and contributions from non-basal slip systems, as evidenced by the presence of C2 and P fibre components. In contrast, WE22 displayed a significantly weakened and more diffuse basal texture, attributed to the combined effects of extensive CDRX and rare-earth-elements-modified deformation behaviour. LZXM2100 exhibited lower strength but higher ductility (true strain of 0.24 ± 0.017), whereas WE22 achieved a superior strength–ductility balance, combining high strength (UTS 380.3 \, ± \,24.9 ± 24.9 MPa) with good ductility (true strain of 0.23 ± 0.069). This enhancement is attributed to more effective and homogeneous recrystallization, the presence of nanoscale and uniformly distributed precipitates, and a weakened basal texture.