Abstract
The Mg-6Zn alloy with different contents of Ce was prepared by the gravity casting method, and then the Mg-6Zn-xCe (x=0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, wt.%) alloys were extruded at 300 °C and 350 °C after solution treatment. The phase constitution and microstructure evolution of Mg-Zn-xCe alloys were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD). Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of the alloy were tested at room temperature. For as-cast alloys, the results show that the main compound in Mg-6Zn alloy is Mg4Zn7 phase, and the main compound is T-(MgZn)12Ce phase after the addition of different amounts of Ce. The microstructure and distribution of second phases are greatly improved after extrusion at 300 °C and 350 °C. Compared with initial mechanical properties, the strength and elongation increase obviously by means of extrusion at different temperatures. In addition, the microstructure after extrusion at 350 °C is further analyzed according to EBSD data. The results show that rare earth element Ce probably promotes the activation of non-basal slip during the deformation process with the increase of Ce, which reduces the strength of basal texture and thus improves the plasticity of the alloy. Meanwhile, the increase of grain boundary migration ability leads to the gradual increase of recrystallization grain size and decreases the strength.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Yang Z, Li J, Zhang J X. Review on research and development of magnesium alloys. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2008, 21(5): 313–328.
Friedrich H, Schumann S. Research for a “new age of magnesium” in the automotive industry. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 2002, 117(3): 276–281.
Zhang Z Y, Huang X F, Yang F, et al. Effect of La addition on semi-solid microstructure evolution of Mg-7Zn magnesium alloy. China Foundry, 2022, 19(5): 403–410.
Buha J. The effect of Ba on the microstructure and age hardening of an Mg-Zn alloy. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 2008, 491(1/2): 70–79.
Kevorkov D, Pekguleryuz M. Experimental study of the Ce-Mg-Zn phase diagram at 350 °C via diffusion couple techniques. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2009, 478(1/2): 427–436.
Chino Y, Kado M, Mabuchi M. Compressive deformation behavior at room temperature - 773 K in Mg-0.2mass% (0.035at.%)Ce alloy. Acta Materialia, 2008, 56(3): 387–394.
Gao L, Yan H, Luo J, et al. Microstructure and mechanical properties of a high ductility Mg-Zn-Mn-Ce magnesium alloy. Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, 2013, 1(4): 283–291.
Liu P, Jiang H, Cai Z, et al. The effect of Y, Ce and Gd on texture, recrystallization and mechanical property of Mg-Zn alloys. Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, 2016, 4(3): 188–196.
Luo A A, Mishra R K, Sachdev A K. High-ductility magnesium-zinc-cerium extrusion alloys. Scripta Materialia, 2011, 64(5): 410–413.
Cai J, Ma G, Liu Z, et al. Influence of rapid solidification on the mechanical properties of Mg-Zn-Ce-Ag magnesium alloy. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 2007, 456(1/2): 364–367.
Chino Y, Sassa K, Mabuchi M. Texture and stretch formability of Mg-1.5mass% Zn-0.2mass% Ce alloy rolled at different rolling temperatures. Materials Transactions, 2008, 49(12): 2916–2918.
Zhou T, Xia H, Chen Z H. Effect of Ce on microstructures and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Mg-Zn alloy. Materials Science and Technology, 2011, 27(7): 1198–1205.
Yi D, Wang B, Fang X, et al. Effect of rare-earth elements Y and Ce on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ZK60 alloy. Materials Science Forum, 2005, 488/489: 103–106.
Mishra R K, Gupta A K, Rao P R, et al. Influence of cerium on the texture and ductility of magnesium extrusions. Scripta Materialia, 2008, 59(5): 562–565.
Clark J B, Zabdyr L, Moser Z. Phase diagrams of binary magnesium alloys. ASM International, Metals Park, OH, 1988: 353–364.
Nayeb-Hashemi A A, Clark J B. The Ce-Mg (cerium magnesium) system. Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams, 1988, 9(2): 162–172.
Gao X, Nie J. Structure and thermal stability of primary intermetallic particles in an Mg-Zn casting alloy. Scripta Materialia, 2007, 57(7): 655–658.
Okamoto H. Comment on Mg-Zn (magnesium-zinc). Journal of Phase Equilibria, 1994, 15(1): 129–130.
Shao G, Varsani V, Wang Y, et al. On the solidification microstructure of Mg-30Zn-2.5Y metal intermetallic alloy. Intermetallics, 2006, 14(6): 596–602.
Yang W, Guo X, Lu Z. Crystal structure of the ternary Mg-Zn-Ce phase in rapidly solidified Mg-6Zn-1Y-1Ce alloy. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2012, 521: 1–3.
Huang M, Li H, Ding H, et al. Partial phase relationships of Mg-Zn-Ce system at 350 °C. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2009, 19: 681–685.
Huang M, Li H, Ding H, et al. Intermetallics and phase relations of Mg-Zn-Ce alloys at 400 °C. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2012, 22: 539–545.
Chino Y, Huang X, Suzuki K, et al. Microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of Mg-Zn-Ce alloy extruded at different temperatures. Materialias Transactions, 2011, 52(6): 1104–1107.
Mackenziea L W F, Pekguleryuzb M O. The recrystallization and texture of magnesium-zinc-cerium alloys. Scripta Materialia, 2008, 59(6): 665–668.
Mishra R K, Gupta A K, Rao P R, et al. Influence of cerium on the texture and ductility of magnesium extrusions. Scripta Materialia, 2008, 59(5): 562–565.
Luo A A, Mishra A A, Sachdev A K. Development of high ductility magnesium-zinc-cerium extrusion alloys. Washington, USA: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, 2010: 313–318.
Li D, Le Q, Zhou X, et al. Study on the low mechanical anisotropy of extruded Mg-Zn-Mn-Ce-Ca alloy tube in the compression process. Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jma.2022.07.001.
Yu Q, Sun Y. Effect of carbon connect and microstructure on the yield-strength ratio of steel. Journal of Plasticity Engineering, 2009, 16(6): 120–126.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFB3501001), and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology Program (2020GG0318).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Wen-xin Hu Male, born in 1984, Ph. D. His research interests mainly focus on the microstructures and mechanical properties of magnesium alloys and aluminum alloys.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wu, Hf., Hu, Wx., Ma, Sb. et al. Effect of Ce on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-Zn-Ce magnesium alloys. China Foundry 20, 271–279 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41230-023-2183-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41230-023-2183-6