Contemporary materials engineering requires the use of materials characterised by high mechanical properties, as these precisely

properties determine the choice of material for parts of machinery and equipment. Owing to these properties it is possible to reduce

the weight and, consequently, the consumption of both material and energy. Trying to meet these expectations, the designers are

increasingly looking for solutions in the application of magnesium alloys as materials offering a very beneficial strength-to-weight ratio.

However, besides alloying elements, the properties are to a great extent shaped by the solidification conditions and related structure.

The process of structure formation depends on the choice of casting method forced by the specific properties of casting or by the specific

intended use of final product. The article presents a comparison of AZ91 magnesium alloys processed by different casting technologies.

A short characteristic was offered for materials processed by the traditional semi-continuous casting process, which uses the solidification

rates comprised in a range of 5 - 20⁰C/s, and for materials made in the process of Rapid Solidification, where the solidification rate can

reach 106 ⁰C/s. As a result of the casting process, a feedstock in the form of billets and thin strips was obtained and was subjected next

to the process of plastic forming. The article presents the results of structural analysis of the final product. The mechanical properties

of the ø7 mm extruded rods were also evaluated and compared.

The effect of plastic deformation process on the dissolution rate of biocompatible Mg alloys was investigated. Two biocompatible MgLi1Ca0,2Zn1 and MgLi1Ca1Zn1 alloys were selected for the study. The alloys were deformed on a 100T press at a temperature of 350°C by conventional extrusion and by the equal channel angular extrusion process (ECAE). The grain size analysis showed a high degree of the grain refinement from approximately 110 mm in the initial state to 2.8 mm after the 3rd pass of the ECAE process. Compared to as-cast state, the degree of strengthening has increased after plastic forming. The results of biodegradation tests have shown a significant increase in corrosion rate after both conventional extrusion and ECAE, although after subsequent ECAE passes, this rate was observed to slightly decrease in the MgLi1Ca1Zn1 alloy. Based on the results of macro- and microstructure examinations, the corrosion progress in samples after the extrusion process was described.