Recrystallisation of magnesium alloys containing rare-earth elements

The static recrystallisation behaviour of two magnesium alloys after hot rolling have been examined. The alloys chosen for study were the conventional alloy AZ31, and an alloy containing the rare earth element Gadolinium. The recrystallisation kinetics were lower for the rareearth alloy at low annealing temperatures, but at high annealing temperatures the kinetics were higher for the rare-earth alloy. It is suggested that this change in the comparative recrystallisation kinetics is a result of the improved mobility of the rare-earth solute at higher temperatures. This affects the recrystallisation kinetics through solute partitioning to the grain boundaries. The effect of this segregation on the recrystallisation texture is also discussed.