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Effects of minor Y addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-Nd-Zn-Zr alloy

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Abstract

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-0.43Nd-xY-0.08Zn-0.11Zr (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.12 at.%) alloys were investigated. The results indicated that Mg24Y5 phase was formed in the as-cast Y-containing alloys, the grains were refined and the amount of needle-like Mg12Nd phase in the α-Mg grain interior was increased with increasing Y addition. After solution treatment, the Mg24Y5 phase and needle-like Mg12Nd phase nearly completely dissolved into the α-Mg matrix and long-rod-like Zn2Zr3 phase occurred. The amount of Zn2Zr3 phase was increased with increasing Y content after age treatment. Mg-0.43Nd-0.12Y-0.08Zn-0.11Zr alloy exhibited the best combination of strength and elongation in all conditions, especially in the temperature range of 200–300 °C, and an Arrhenius model was established to study the plastic flow behavior. The improvement in mechanical properties was attributed to the grain refining, solution strengthening and enhanced precipitation hardening of Zn2Zr3 phase and β-type phase.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work is supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFB0701205), Science Innovation Foundation of Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (Nos. SAST2015047 and SAST2016048).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Research Center of Light Alloy Net Forming and State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Yushi Chen, Guohua Wu, Wencai Liu, Liang Zhang, Haohao Zhang & Wendong Cui

  2. Shanghai Light Alloy Net Forming National Engineering Research Center Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 201615, China

    Wencai Liu

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  1. Yushi Chen
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  2. Guohua Wu
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Correspondence to Guohua Wu.

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Chen, Y., Wu, G., Liu, W. et al. Effects of minor Y addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-Nd-Zn-Zr alloy. Journal of Materials Research 32, 3712–3722 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2017.277

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2017.277

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