Investigations on microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr-Nd alloy

Abstract

Different solution treatments were carried out on the semi-continuously cast Mg-9.55Gd-2.27Y-1.28Zn-0.55Zr-0.11Nd (wt.%) alloy at temperatures of 480 °C, 500 °C, and 520 °C. It was found that the different solution treatment temperatures led to different phase constitutions of the alloy. The Mg3RE-type eutectic phases transform into long period stacking order (LPSO) phases with various morphologies after solution treatment. Increasing the solution temperature resulted in larger grain size, greater number of lamellar LPSO phases, and segregation of Zr element. Block LPSO phases also shifted to rod LPSO phase. After ageing treatment, the special spatial structure consisting of prismatic β′ precipitates, basal γ′ precipitates, and lamellar LPSO phases hindered dislocation movement effectively, leading to high strength.However, the accumulation of massive dislocations promoted the premature formation of cracks at the grain boundary and LPSO/Mg matrix interface, resulting in a rapid decrease in ductility of the alloy. After solution treatment at 480 °C for 12 h and aged at 200 °C for 48 h, the Mg-9.55Gd-2.27Y-1.28Zn-0.55Zr-0.11Nd alloy exhibited favorable comprehensive mechanical properties at room temperature: ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 383 MPa, tensile yield strength (TYS) of 269 MPa, and fracture elongation (EL) of 5.1%.