Advances in EBSD-based approaches for quantifying slip activity in deformed Mg alloys

Plastic deformation in Mg alloys requires a full understanding of slip activity and intergranular interactions, which determine mechanical behavior and strain localization. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has emerged as a versatile technique to map crystallographic orientations, slip systems, and lattice rotations, permitting the systematic analysis of deformation mechanisms across polycrystalline aggregates. The coupling of EBSD with metrics including Schmid factors, ingrain misorientation axes, and slip-transfer criteria permits a quantitative assessment of slip compatibility and the role of grain boundaries in strain accommodation. Limitations related to conventional 2D surface characterization create a growing need for novel three-dimensional techniques that can accurately represent grain boundary geometry as well as complex intergranular deformation pathways. A focused review of such methodologies will compile current knowledge on these methods and their capabilities and limitations, guiding future investigations toward a deeper understanding of microstructure-mechanics relationships in Mg alloys.