Abstract
Mg–xGd–0.6Zr (x = 2, 4, and 6% mass fraction) alloys were synthesized by semi-continuous casting process. The effects of gadolinium content and aging time on microstructures and mechanical properties of the Mg–xGd–0.6Zr alloys were investigated. The results show that the microstructures of the as-cast GKx (x = 2, 4, and 6%) alloys are typical grain structures and no Gd dendritic segregation. In as-cast Mg–6Gd–0.6Zr alloy, the second phases Mg5.05Gd, Mg2Gd, and Mg3Gd will form due to non-equilibrium solidification during the casting process, and these second phases will disappear after hot-extrusion. The residual compressive stress exists in alloys after extrusion and increases with increasing Gd content. The existence of residual compressive stress contributes to the tensile strength. The elongation of all extruded alloys is over 30%, and the ultimate and yield tensile strength of the Mg–6Gd–0.6Zr alloy are 237 and 168 MPa, respectively. After isothermal aging for 10 h, the strength of extruded Mg–6Gd–0.6Zr alloys increases slightly, however, the elongation of alloys rarely decreases. The fracture mechanism of all studied alloys is ductile fracture.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Yang MB, Cheng L, Pan FS (2009) J Mater Sci 44:4577. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-009-3693-0
Shigeharu K, Shigeru I, Kiyoaki O (1992) Jpn J Inst Light Met 42(12):727
Shigero I, Yuji N, Shigeharu K (1994) Jpn J Inst Light Met 144(1):1
Li DJ, Wang QD, Blandin JJ (2009) Mater Sci Eng A 526(1/2):150
Peng QM, Wu YM, Fang DQ, Meng J, Wang LM (2007) J Alloy Compd 430:252
Peng QM, Hou XL, Wang LD, Wu YM, Cao ZY, Wang LM (2009) Mater Design 30:292
Wang R, Dong J, Fan LK, Zhang P, Ding WJ (2008) Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China 18:189
Zheng KY, Dong J, Zeng XQ, Ding WJ (2008) Mater Charact 59:857
Anyanwu IA, Kamado SY (2001) Mater Trans 42:1206
Kawabata T, Matsuda K, Kamado S (2003) Mater Sci Forum 419–422:303
Liu K, Zhang JH, Rokhlin LL, Elkin FM, Tang DX, Meng J (2009) Mater Sci Eng A 505:13
Balasubramani N, Pillai UTS, Pai BC (2008) J Alloys Compds 460:6
Liu K, Zhang JH, Su GH, Tang DX, Rokhlin LL, Elkin FM, Meng J (2009) J Alloys Compd 481:811
Xiao Y, Zhang XM, Chen BX, Deng ZZ (2006) Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China 16:1669
Peng QM, Dong HW, Wang LD, Wu YM, Wang LM (2008) Mater Sci Eng A 477:193
Yang Z, Li JP, Gao YC, Liu T, Xia F, Zeng ZW, Liang MX (2007) Mater Sci Eng A 454:274
Yuan FR, Wu SL (1987) Measurement and calculation of residual stress. Hunan University Press, Changsha
Zhang DQ, He JW (1999) Residual stress analysis by X-ray diffraction and its function. Xi’an Jiaotong University Press, Xi’an
Jankowski AF, Saw CK, Ferreira JL, Harper JS, Hayes JP, Pint BA (2007) J Mater Sci 42:5722. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0658-7
Gautam A, Tripathy P, Raw S (2006) J Mater Sci 41:3007. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-6768-4
Sun M, Wu GH, Wang W, Ding WJ (2009) Mater Sci Eng A 523:145
Agnew SR, Yoo MH, Tome CN (2001) Acta Mater 49(20):4277
Acknowledgements
This study is supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Project no. CDJZR10 13 00 20).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hu, YB., Deng, J., Zhao, C. et al. Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–Gd–Zr alloys with low gadolinium contents. J Mater Sci 46, 5838–5846 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5540-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5540-6