T6 aging, involving solution treatment and artificial aging, is a widely adopted strengthening method for magnesium alloys due to its proven effectiveness. However, the integration of three or more sequential thermal treatments has been explored only sparingly, primarily due to the challenges associated with optimizing such multi-parameter processing systems. This study demonstrates that integrating a 12 h deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) before aging in a Mg–Al–Ca–Mn alloy optimizes mechanical performance, achieving a tensile strength of 343 MPa and 27.3% elongation. Microstructural analysis, based on electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), reveals that the strength enhancement results from ~29 nm precipitate refinement, elevated dislocation density, and nanoscale sub-grain formation, while the ductility gains stem from the activation of non-basal slip systems and the suppression of microcrack propagation. These synergistic mechanisms enable superior strain accommodation, providing a clear framework for DCT-enabled sequential heat treatment design in high-performance magnesium alloys. |
