Effect of Nd Additions on the Mechanical Properties of Mg Binary Alloys

Abstract

The influence of Nd contents and particles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of extruded Mg alloys are discussed. Pure Mg and binary Mg-xNd (x = 0.2 wt.%, 0.5 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 5 wt.%) alloys were cast and extruded. Hardness and tensile/compression tests were measured on those alloys. The results show that the addition of Nd to Mg leads to improvements in hardness, tensile/compression yield strengths and elongation. However, the Nd has little effect on ultimate strengths and compressibility of Mg alloys. The contributions of strengthening mechanisms to the tensile/compressive yield strength of extruded Mg-Nd alloys are investigated. Mg41Nd5 phase was distributed in Mg-2Nd and Mg-5Nd alloys after extrusion, which is the main reason that decreased the grain size of Mg-Nd. The tension-compressing yield asymmetry is decreased from 1.8 to 1 with the increased additions Nd in extruded alloys.