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Microstructural evolution and aging behavior of Mg–4.5Y–2.5Nd–1.0Gd–0.5Zr alloys with different Zn additions

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Abstract

Microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg–4.5Y–2.5Nd–1.0Gd–0.5Zr–xZn (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5; wt%) alloys under as-cast and peak-aged states were investigated in this work. The results indicate that the intermetallic phase components are closely dependent on Zn content. Under as-cast state, the dominant eutectic phase is Mg5RE in the alloys with 0 wt% and 0.5 wt% Zn additions while Mg5RE, 18R- and 14H-LPSO (long period stacking ordered) phases in the alloys with 1.0 wt% and 1.5 wt% Zn additions. After solution and peak-aging, the highest strength and hardness were obtained on the alloy with 0.5 wt% Zn addition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations revealed that there are denser and finer precipitates on basal (β′) and prismatic (γ″) planes, respectively. Therefore, the excellent mechanical performance of the alloy with 0.5 wt% Zn addition is mainly due to precipitation strengthening and grain boundary strengthening.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51701200) and the Scientific and Technological Developing Scheme of Jilin Province (No. 20200801048GH).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of Ministry of Education, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China

    Zheng Tian & Zhan-Yi Cao

  2. State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resources Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

    Zheng Tian, Qiang Yang, Kai Guan & Jian Meng

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  1. Zheng Tian
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  2. Qiang Yang
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  3. Kai Guan
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  4. Zhan-Yi Cao
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  5. Jian Meng
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Correspondence to Qiang Yang or Zhan-Yi Cao.

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Tian, Z., Yang, Q., Guan, K. et al. Microstructural evolution and aging behavior of Mg–4.5Y–2.5Nd–1.0Gd–0.5Zr alloys with different Zn additions. Rare Met. 40, 2188–2196 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-020-01510-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-020-01510-5

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