Magnesium base metal alloy sheet is produced by rolling the rolling stock
extruded or forged from a billet at a temperature ranging from 200.degree.
C. to 300.degree. C. The billet is consolidated from rapidly solidified
magnesium based alloy powder that consists of the formula Mg.sub.bal
Al.sub.a Zn.sub.b X.sub.c, wherein X is at least one element selected from
the group consisting of manganese, cerium, neodymium, praseodymium, and
yttrium, "a" ranges from about 0 to 15 atom percent, "b" ranges from about
0 to 4 atom percent, "c" ranges from about 0.2 to 3 atom percent, the
balance being magnesium and incidental impurities, with the proviso that
the sum of aluminum and zinc present ranges from about 2 to 15 atom
percent. The alloy has a uniform microstructure comprised of fine grain
size ranging from 0.2-1.0 .mu.m together with precipitates of magnesium
and aluminum containing intermetallic phases of a size less than 0.1
.mu.m. The sheets have a good combination of mechanical strength and
ductility and are suitable for military, space, aerospace and automotive
application.
