Engineering ductility in magnesium: A review of texture-driven challenges and opportunities

Magnesium and its alloys are increasingly used in automotive and aerospace industries due to their low density, which supports lightweighting and reduces environmental impact. However, their broader application is limited by poor formability, largely resulting from strong textures formed during mechanical processing that reduce ductility. Extensive research has focused on mitigating this issue through alloying and optimised processing. While rare earth (RE) elements are highly effective in weakening texture, their scarcity drives interest in alternative approaches. This review discusses the mechanisms by which RE elements influence texture, explores the potential of non-RE elements, particularly calcium, and highlights promising results from multi-component alloying. It also examines key processing parameters for the AZ31 alloy, emphasising properties, industrial feasibility, and directions for alloy development.