Dynamic compression behaviour and microstructural evolution of the Mg–6Zn–2Ce–0.6Zr alloy

Herein, an Mg–6Zn–2Ce–0.6Zr alloy was prepared via the extrusion–shear process. The dynamic compression mechanical performance and mechanism of microstructural evolution of the alloy in a strain rate range from 500 to 2500 s −1 were investigated. The dynamic compression performance of the alloy increased with the strain rate. The electron backscatter diffraction analyses revealed that the angle between the c-axis and the extrusion direction of most grains changed from 90° to 180° after dynamic compression. The deformation can be attributed to the extension twining, basal slip, and prismatic slip. The dynamic deformation mechanism was studied and the fracture mechanism under a high strain rate was determined by analysing the temperature rise and absorbed energy density.