Grain refinement of an extruded Mg alloy via na microalloying

The effect of 0.3 wt pct Na on the microstructure of extruded alloy Mg-2Sn-1Zn is examined. We report that Na stabilizes the Mg2Sn phase, resulting in its precipitation during extrusion under conditions where a solid solution is otherwise expected. This effect appears to be thermodynamic in nature and is different from the kinetic enhancement of low- temperature aging reported by Mendis et al. [Phil. Mag. Letters, 86 (2006), 443]. The precipitates of the current study enable useful refinement of the grain size.

Microstructural development and mechanical properties in wrought Mg-Zn-RE alloys

Magnesium-zinc alloys with and without rare earth metals were examined. Particles form when rare earth metals are present and these affect the development of the internal structures in the alloys. Finer, more numerous and more uniformly distributed particles result in alloys with the best combination of high strength and ductility.

Compositional effects on the restoration behaviour in Mg-Zn-Re alloys

Additions of rare earth elements to magnesium alloys are qualitatively reported in the literature to retard recrystallisation. However, their effect in the presence of other (non-rare earth) alloy additions has not been systematically shown nor has the effect been quantified. The microstructural restoration following the hot deformation of Mg-xZn-yRE (x = 2.5 and 5 wt.%, y = 0 and 1 wt.%, and RE = Gd and Y) alloys has been studied using double hit compression testing and microscopy. It was found that, in the absence of rare earth additions, increases in zinc level had a negligible influence on the kinetics of restoration and the microstructure developed both during extrusion and throughout double hit testing. Adding rare earth elements to Mg-Zn alloys was found to retard restoration of the microstructure and maintain finer recrystallised grains. However, in the Mg-Zn-RE alloys, increasing the zinc concentration from 2.5 wt.% to 5 wt.% accelerated the restoration process, most likely due to a depletion of rare earth elements from solid solution and modification of the particles present in the matrix.

Na partitioning during thermomechanical processing of an Mg-Sn-Zn-Na alloy

Microstructural characterization was used to examine the changes that occur in an Mg-6Sn-5Zn-0.3Na alloy from casting to extrusion at either 623 K or 723 K (350 _C or 450 _C) followed by artificial aging at 473 K (200 _C). In particular, the partitioning of Na was examined at each step using STEM-EDS mapping. Na atoms were found to preferentially partition to the Mg-Zn phase when present. After extrusion, when no Mg-Zn was observed, the spherical Mg2Sn particles were found to be enriched in Na, particularly at the higher extrusion temperature. Artificial aging following extrusion resulted in a change in Na partitioning, and a coarse distribution of Mg-Zn precipitate rods. Na microadditions led to a high as-extruded hardness, but a significant tension–compression yield asymmetry was still observed at room temperature. The compressive yield strength was found to decrease significantly after 1000 hours of aging.