Atomic Scale Investigation on Precipitates and Defects of Mg–RE Alloys: A Review

Abstract

Magnesium rare‐earth (Mg‐RE) alloys with are playing an increasingly important role in many industrial fields due to the improvement of mechanical properties and formability from RE alloying. In addition to the traditional researches on the relationship between macroscopic mechanical properties and micro‐structures, atomic scale characterization methods have been rapidly developed and widely applied to reveal the interior of these alloys. Precipitates and defects are known to be the dominant factors that influence the mechanical behaviors as well as plastic responses. Common strengthening precipitates in Mg‐RE alloys include long period stacking ordered structure (LPSO), β serial, γ serial metastable precipitates. This review mainly considers and discusses the recent development in atomic scale investigation on Mg‐RE alloy, including the common strengthening phases and interactions between defects (dislocations, twins) and existing strengthening precipitates.