Magnesium (Mg) alloys are highly valued in aerospace, biomedical and other fields due to their high specific strength. However, non-uniform corrosion failure during service remains a core challenge that restricts their engineering applications. Traditional corrosion kinetics models fail to accurately elucidate the cross-scale synergy mechanism between microstructure and macroscopic corrosion behavior. In this study, based on 13 kinds of Mg alloys, 20 sets of 100-h hydrogen evolution curves, and characterization data from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) information, a multi-level corrosion kinetics database was constructed, covering physicochemical parameters, micro-grain topological structures and second phase features, as well as macroscopic statistical characteristics and temporal dimension. Through machine learning algorithms, key corrosion driving factors were identified, and a multi-level graph attention network modeling framework was proposed, where the grains and grain boundaries were constructed as a graph structure, and the hierarchical interaction modeling between microstructure and corrosion kinetics was realized by combining the attention mechanism. The model has been validated in a new Mg alloy dataset for its predictive capability across compositional systems. This work provides a new computational paradigm and significantly enhances the predictability and efficiency of corrosion-resistant Mg alloy design.

In recent years, a new class of metallic materials featuring heterogeneous structures has emerged. These materials consist of distinct soft and hard domains with significant differences in mechanical properties, allowing them to maintain high strength while offering superior ductility. Magnesium (Mg) alloys, renowned for their low density, high specific strength, exceptional vibration damping, and electromagnetic shielding properties, exhibit tremendous potential as lightweight and functional materials. Despite their advantageous properties, high-strength Mg alloys often suffer from limited ductility. However, the emergence of heterogeneous materials provides a fresh perspective for the development of Mg alloys with both high strength and ductility. This article provided a fundamental overview of heterostructured materials and systematically reviewed the recent research progress in the design of Mg alloys with strength-ductility balance based on heterostructure principles. The review encompassed various aspects, including preparation methods, formation mechanisms of diverse heterostructures, and mechanical properties, both within domestic and international contexts. On this basis, the article discussed the challenges encountered in the design and fabrication of heterostructured Mg alloys, as well as the urgent issues that require attention and resolution in the future.