Impact of Homogenization Treatment on the Microstructure, Recrystallization and Mechanical Behavior of Hot-Rolled Mg-Al-Zn-Ca Alloy

The present study systematically investigates the effect of homogenization treatment on the microstructural evolution, recrystallization behavior, and mechanical response of a hot-rolled Mg-3Al-1Zn-1Ca alloy. Detailed microstructural characterization revealed that Al2Ca precipitates were uniformly distributed along grain boundaries in the as-received (AR) condition, where they contributed to significant pinning of boundary migration. Homogenization treatment (350 °C, furnace cooling) resulted in non-uniform grain coarsening, driven by the interplay of precipitate pinning and differential stored strain energy, while also facilitating particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN) and recrystallization. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis confirmed a substantial increase in the fraction of high-angle grain boundaries and recrystallized grains in the heat-treated (HT) state, with kernel average misorientation (KAM) and grain orientation spread (GOS) analyses indicating pronounced recovery of lattice distortions. Mechanical testing demonstrated a significant decrease in yield strength (263 MPa to 187.4 MPa) and hardness (65.7 to 54.1 HV) due to dislocation annihilation and stress relaxation, while ultimate tensile strength remained nearly unchanged (~338 MPa) and ductility improved markedly (12.6% to 16.4%). These findings highlight the dual role of Al2Ca precipitates in promoting recrystallization through PSN while simultaneously restricting excessive grain growth through Zener pinning.