Abstract: The effects of calcium on microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of hot-extruded Mg–Zn–Ca alloys were studied. The results showed that calcium elements can weaken the strong basal textures and refined the grain size of extruded Mg–Zn–Ca alloys. The weakening of extrusion textures with increasing content of Ca is related to the particle stimulated nucleation of recrystallization (PSN) and the particle retarded the growth of the dynamic recrystallization grains. The increase of the tensile elongation is attributing to the weakened extrusion textures and refined grains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]