Enhanced strength and corrosion resistance of creep-aged AA2050 Al-Li alloy by pre-rolling deformation

•The pre-rolling enhanced strength and corrosion resistance of creep-aged alloys.•The relationship between creep rate and microstructural evolution was analyzed.•The contributions of strengthening mechanisms to strength were quantificationally, qualitatively evaluated.•The corrosion behavior was related to chemical characteristics of GBPs and precipitation along dispersoids.•High proportion of LAGBs promoted corrosion path to develop into grains.