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Effect of Zn addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–9Gd–3Y–0.5Zr alloy

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Abstract

A comparison of microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture behavior of Mg–9Gd–3Y–x Zn–0.5Zr ( x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5) (wt%) alloys under different thermal treatment conditions was investigated in this study. The results showed that the as-cast alloys were comprised of Mg matrix, eutectic compounds and cuboid-shaped phases. The eutectics were Mg24(Gd, Y)5 in the alloys of Zn content ≤0.2 wt%, while (Mg, Zn)3RE in the other three alloys. Fine lamellar long period stacking ordered structure formed inside of matrix of the as-cast Zn-containing alloys and its quantity increases with raising Zn content. Mg12(Gd, Y)Zn was observed at grain boundary of Mg matrix after solution treatment in the alloys of Zn content ≥0.5 wt%. Peak-aged Mg–9Gd–3Y–0.5Zn–0.5Zr alloy exhibited a desirable combination of strength and elongation with 244 MPa in yield strength, 371 MPa in ultimate tensile strength and 3.8% in EL. Meanwhile, the fracture behavior of the studied alloys was also investigated.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work is supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFB0701205), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51771115), Science Innovation Foundation of Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (Nos. SAST2015047 and SAST2016048), and Research Program of Joint Research Center of Advanced Spaceflight Technologies (Nos. USCAST2015-25 and USCAST2016-18).

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Wendong Cui, Wencai Liu & Guohua Wu

  2. Shanghai Spaceflight Precision Machinery Institute, Shanghai, 201600, China

    Lv Xiao, Xianfei Wang & Zhongquan Li

  3. Shanghai Engineering Technology Research Center of Near-Net-Shape Forming for Metallic Materials, Shanghai, 201600, China

    Lv Xiao, Xianfei Wang & Zhongquan Li

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  1. Wendong Cui
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Correspondence to Wencai Liu or Guohua Wu.

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Cui, W., Xiao, L., Liu, W. et al. Effect of Zn addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–9Gd–3Y–0.5Zr alloy. Journal of Materials Research 33, 733–744 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2017.458

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2017.458

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