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Study on Microstructure and Strengthening Sources of As-Cast Mg-Zn-RE-Zr Alloy during Heat Treatments

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Abstract

The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of as-cast ZE61 are presented in the article. The common eutectic Mg24(RE, Zn)5 phases and secondary phases are distributed on the matrix in the as-cast alloy. During the solid solution-treated processes at 510~540 °C, the grains become coarser at first and then stay stable with the increasing of solute temperature. The peak value 9.6% of elongation is obtained at 510 °C and the yield strength of 101MPa is obtained at 520 °C. Two strengthening models (Orowan equation and CE model) are used to estimate the precipitate strengthening and solid solution strengthening sources in the article. The precipitate strengthening is calculated by the Orowan equation through measuring the mean diameter of the precipitates (dp) and volume fraction of precipitates on the matrix (fv). The CE model assumes equivalent strengthening effects for different solute atoms; the increased amount of the critical resolved shear stress for basal slip is proportional to c2/3 or c1/2, where c is the average atomic concentration. The strengthening sources are calculated by above two models and the results are compared with each other. The strengthening sources of the pure Mg (denoted as σMg), solid solution strengthening (σss), the precipitate strengthening (σppt) and grain boundary strengthening (σgb) are calculated. The results of strengthening contribution of different sources can provide a new idea of strengthening method or heat-treatment process to strengthen the magnesium alloys.

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Acknowledgment

This work is supported by Equipment Development Department (No. 50922010302) and the Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China Academy of Space Technology (2021399). The Analytical and Testing Centre of the Harbin Institute of Technology and University of Science and Technology Beijing are also thanked for the sample preparation and useful discussion of the TEM analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing, 100094, China

    X. Z. Han, Z. Z. Cheng, C. Zhang, L. M. Shi, W. X. Huang & C. Jiang

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China

    W. C. Xu

  3. Tianjin Aerospace Electromechanical Equipment Research Institute, Tianjin, 300301, China

    G. L. Zhang

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This invited article is part of a special topical focus in the Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance on Magnesium. The issue was organized by Prof. C. (Ravi) Ravindran, Dr. Raja Roy, Mr. Payam Emadi and Mr. Bernoulli Andilab, Ryerson University.

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Han, X.Z., Cheng, Z.Z., Zhang, C. et al. Study on Microstructure and Strengthening Sources of As-Cast Mg-Zn-RE-Zr Alloy during Heat Treatments. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 32, 2552–2560 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-022-07045-3

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