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This study focuses on the effect of high-pressure torsion (HPT) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, electrical conductivity and ignition temperature of a Mg–6Al–3Ca-0.02Mn-0.008Be (at%) alloy. The HPT-processed samples exhibit high tensile yield strengths of 400 MPa with total elongations of ∼5%. Quantitative evaluation shows that the high tensile strength is attributed to the ultrafine grain refinement, the generation of high dislocation density and the fragmentation of intermetallic particles to nanoscales. Dynamic precipitation of nanosized particles during the HPT processing at elevated temperature might have also contributed to the high strengthening. It is shown that homogeneous grain refinement throughout the sample leads to the simultaneous enhancement of strength and ductility. The electrical conductivity is restored due to concomitant precipitation during the HPT processing at 573 K. There is …