The partial substitution of Y with Gd on microstructures and mechanical properties of as-cast and as-extruded Mg-10Zn-6Y-0.5Zr alloy

Mg-10Zn-6Y-0.5Zr (wt%) alloy and Mg-10Zn-3Y-3Gd-0.5Zr (wt%) alloy with medium RE content have been fabricated by conventional casting and indirect extrusion. The as-extruded Mg-10Zn-6Y-0.5Zr (wt%) alloy shows a bimodal microstructure containing dynamic recrystallized (DRXed) grains with average grain size of 2 μm and deformed regions. In addition to the fragmented W phase particle bands distributing along the extrusion direction, large amount of nano W phase and small amount of nano β₂′ phase are precipitated in the matrix. While the as-extruded Mg-10Zn-3Y-3Gd-0.5Zr (wt%) alloy exhibits completely dynamic recrystallized microstructure with average grain size of 3 μm. The broken W phase particles are distributed homogeneously in the matrix. Icosahedral quasicrystal phase layer is observed at the surface of some W phase particles in the as-extruded Mg-10Zn-3Y-3Gd-0.5Zr alloy. The as-extruded Mg-10Zn-6Y-0.5Zr (wt%) alloy exhibits yield strength of 341 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 368 MPa and elongation to failure of 6.8%. While the as-extruded Mg-10Zn-3Y-3Gd-0.5Zr (wt%) alloy shows lower yield strength of 247 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 330 MPa and higher elongation to failure of 19.8%. The higher strength in the as-extruded Mg-10Zn-6Y-0.5Zr (wt%) alloy is mainly attributed to higher area fraction of unDRXed regions with strong texture and the precipitation of nano W and β₂′ phase. The fully recrystallized microstructure with weak texture and the formation of icosahedral quasicrystal phases with good coherent bond with α-Mg contribute to the good ductility of the as-extruded Mg-10Zn-3Y-3Gd-0.5Zr alloy.