Effects of cerium on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-20Zn-8Al alloy

Mg-20Zn-8Al-xCe(x=0-2 wt.%) alloys were prepared by metal mould casting method, the effects of Ce on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloys were investigated. The results showed that the dendrite as well as gram size were refined by the addition of Ce, and the best refinement was obtained in 1.39% Ce containing alloy. The main phases in the as cast alloys were alpha-Mg and tau-Mg-32 (Al, Zn)(49), and Al4Ce phase was found in the alloys contained more than 1.39% Ce. The addition of Ce improved the mechanical properties of the alloys. The strengthening mechanism was attributed to grain refinement and compound reinforced.

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-8Zn-8Al-4RE magnesium alloy

The Mg-8Zn-8Al-4RE (RE = mischmetal, mass%) magnesium alloy was prepared by using casting method. The microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast alloy, solid solution alloy and aged alloy samples have been investigated. Optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometery and scanning electron microscope attached energy spectrometer were used to characterize the microstructure and phase composition for the alloy. Net shaped tau-Mg-32(Al,Zn)(49) phase was obtained at the grain boundary, and needle-like or blocky Al11RE3 phase disperses in grain boundary and alpha-Mg matrix. The tau-Mg-32(Al,Zn)(49) phase disappeared during solution treatment and a new phase of Al(2)CeZn2 formed during subsequent age treatment. The mechanical properties were performed by universal testing machine at room temperature, 150 degrees C and 200 degrees C, separately. The ultimate tensile strength of as-cast alloy is lower compared to an age treatment alloy at 200 degrees C for 12h. The strengths decreased with enhancing test temperature, but elongation has not been effect by age treatment.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr-xNd (x=0, 1, 2 and 3 mass%) alloys

Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr-xNd (x = 0, 1, 2 and 3 mass%) alloys were prepared by metal mould casting method, and the microstructures, age hardening responses and mechanical properties have been investigated. The microhardness of the as-cast alloys is increased with increasing Nd content. The age hardening behavior and mechanical properties are enhanced significantly by adding Nd element. The peak ageing hardness of the Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr-3Nd alloy is 103, it is about 1.3 times more than that of the Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr alloy. The aged Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr-3Nd alloy exhibits maximum ultimate tensile strength and yield strength, and the values are 271 and 205 MPa at room temperature, 205 MPa and 150 MPa at 250 degrees C, respectively. Which are about 2 times higher than those of Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr alloy. The improved hardness and strength are mainly attributed to the fine dispersiveness Of Mg5RE and Mg12RE precipitates in the alloy.

Structure and mechanical properties of Mg-Zn-RE system alloys

The lightest density of Mg has stimulated renewed interest in Mg based alloys for applications in the automotive, aerospace and communications industries. However, Mg in the pure form has relatively low strength, limited ductility and is susceptible to corrosion. Great efforts have been made to improve the mechanical properties of Mg alloys. Alloying Mg with other elements is one of the most important methods. An important class of Mg alloys is the Mg-Zn-RE system (RE = rare earth elements). In recent few decades, a series of new Mg-Zn-RE system alloys have been obtained, and detailed the structure and mechanical properties of the alloys. In this paper, the structure and mechanical properties of the Mg-Zn-RE alloys have been summarized. It showed that these alloys have high strength and they are prospected to be widely used in the future.

Effect of the addition of YAG(Y3Al5O12) nanopowder on the mechanical properties of lanthanum zirconate

La2Zr2O7 (LZ) is a promising thermal barrier coating material for the high-temperature applications, which could be significantly toughened by the YAG nanopowder incorporated into the matrix. The composites of xYAG/(1-x)LZ (Y=10, 15, 20 vol. %, LZ-x-YAG) were densified by means of high-pressure sintering (HPS) under a pressure of 4.5 GPa at 1650 degrees C for 5 min, by which a high-relative density above 93% could be obtained. The morphologies of the fractured surfaces were investigated by the scanning electron microscope, and the fracture toughness and Vicker's-hardness of the composites were evaluated by the microindentation. The grain size of the LZ matrix drops significantly with the addition of YAG nanoparticles and the fracture type changes from the intergranular to a mixture type of the transgranular and intergranular in the nanocomposites. The LZ-20-YAG nanocomposite has a fracture toughness of 1.93 MPa m(1/2), which is obviously higher than that of the pure LZ (1.57 MPa m(1/2)), and the toughening mechanism is discussed in this paper.

Effect of Y for enhanced age hardening response and mechanical properties of Mg-Gd-Y-Zr alloys

In this study, compositional dependence of age hardening response and tensile properties were investigated for Mg-10G(d-x)Y-0.4Zr (x = 1, 3, 5 wt.%) alloys. With increasing Y content, the age hardening response of the alloys enhanced and tensile properties increased. The Mg-10Gd-5Y-0.4Zr alloy exhibited maximum tensile strength and yield strength at aged-peak hardness, and the values were 302 MPa and 289 MPa at room temperature, and 340 MPa and 267 MPa at 250 degrees C, respectively. The strong peak age hardening was attributed to the precipitation of prismatic beta' plates in a triangular arrangement. The cubic shaped beta phase was also observed at grain boundaries. The remarkable improvement in strength is associated with a uniform and high dense distribution of beta' and cubic shaped beta precipitate phases in Mg matrix. Elongation of Mg-10Gd-0.4Zr alloys decreased with increasing Y content, and the elongation of Mg-10Gd-5Y-0.4Zr alloy was less than 3% below 250 degrees C, whereas the alloys containing I wt.% and 3 wt.% Y exhibited higher elongation than 5% at room temperature.

Preparation of W-Al-Mo ternary alloys by mechanical alloying

Single phase WxAl(50)Mo(50)-X (X=40, 30, 20 and 10) powders have been synthesized directly by mechanical alloying (MA). The structural evolutions during MA and subsequent as-milled powders by annealing at 1400 degrees C have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Different from the Mo50Al50 alloy, W40Al50Mo10 and W30Al50Mo20 alloys were stable at 1400 degrees C under vacuum. The results of high-pressure sintering indicated that the microhardnesses of two compositions, namely W40Al50Mo10 and W30Al50Mo20 alloys have higher values compared with W50Al50 alloy.

The mechanical properties of magnesium matrix composites reinforced with 10 wt.% W14Al86 alloy particles

The Mg-based metal matrix composite reinforced by 10 wt.% W14Al86 alloy particles has been prepared by mechanical alloying and press-forming process. X-ray diffraction studies confirm the formation of the composite. Microstructure characterization of the samples reveals the uniform distribution of fine W14Al86 alloy. Mechanical properties characterization revealed that the reinforcement of W14Al86 alloy lead to a significant increase in hardness and tensile strength of Mg and AZ91.

Fabrication, microstructure and mechanical properties of novel cemented hard alloy obtained by mechanical alloying and hot-pressing sintering

A novel cemented carbides alloy (W0.4Al0.6)C-0.65-Co were prepared by mechanical alloying and hot-pressing sintering in this work. Hot-pressing (HP) as a common technique was performed to fabricate the bulk bodies of the hard alloys. The hardness, bending strength, density of the novel hard alloy are also tested, and it has superior mechanical properties. The hardness of (W0.4Al0.6)C-0.65-Co hard alloy was very high, and the density, operate cost of the novel material were much lower than WC-Co, more important is the aluminum dissolving is not decrease the strength compared with the WC-Co system. There is almost no eta-phase in the (W0.4Al0.6)C-0.65-Co cemented carbides system even the carbon deficient reaches the astonishing value of 35%. This novel property will give us more choice to design and gain new materials that we needed.