Abstract
The compressive mechanical behavior and deformation mechanisms of a dual-phase Mg-Sc alloy consisting of hexagonal close-packed (HCP) and body-centered cubic (BCC) phases are systematically investigated over a wide temperature range (133–473 K) at two representative strain rates (0.001 and 3000 s−1). The mechanical response strongly depends on both deformation temperature and strain rate. An excellent strength-ductility synergy is achieved at 133 K and 3000 s−1, with a yield strength of 364 MPa and a fracture strain of 32%. Microstructural analyses reveal that twinning in the HCP phase is significantly suppressed at 298 K and 0.001 s−1 due to the relatively high Sc content. Decreasing temperature and increasing strain rate both promote twinning activity, with strain rate playing a more pronounced role. At 133 K and 3000 s−1, {112¯1} and {101¯2} twins dominate, accompanied by {101¯1} twin and secondary twins such as {112¯1}−{112¯1} and {101¯1}−{101¯2}. Plastic deformation in the BCC phase is mainly governed by dislocation slip, and only a small amount of deformation-induced HCP martensite is observed. These results provide novel insight into the temperature- and strain-rate-dependent deformation mechanisms in dual-phase Mg-Sc alloys.