The Effect of (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce Phase Content on the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr Alloy

The quantitative study of rare earth compounds is important for the improvement of existing magnesium alloy systems and the design of new magnesium alloys. In this paper, the effective separation of matrix and compound in Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr alloy was achieved by a low-temperature chemical phase separation...

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Main Authors: Yuguang Li, Feng Guo, Huisheng Cai, Yiwei Wang, Liang Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Materials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4420
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author Yuguang Li
Feng Guo
Huisheng Cai
Yiwei Wang
Liang Liu
author_facet Yuguang Li
Feng Guo
Huisheng Cai
Yiwei Wang
Liang Liu
author_sort Yuguang Li
collection DOAJ
description The quantitative study of rare earth compounds is important for the improvement of existing magnesium alloy systems and the design of new magnesium alloys. In this paper, the effective separation of matrix and compound in Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr alloy was achieved by a low-temperature chemical phase separation technique. The mass fraction of the (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce compound was determined and the effect of the (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce phase content on the heat deformation organization and properties was investigated. The results show that the Mg–Zn–Ce compound in both the as-cast and the homogeneous alloys is (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce. (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce phase formation depends on the content and the ratio of Zn and Ce elements in the initial residual melt of the eutectic reaction. The Zn/Ce mass ratios below 2.5 give the highest compound contents for different Zn contents, 5.262 wt.% and 7.040 wt.%, respectively. The increase in the amount of the (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce phase can significantly reduce the critical conditions for dynamic recrystallization formation. Both the critical strain and the stress decrease with increasing rare earth content. The reduction of the critical conditions and the particle-promoted nucleation mechanism work together to increase the amount of dynamic recrystallization. In addition, it was found that alloys with 6 wt.% Zn elements tend to undergo a dynamic recrystallization softening mechanism, while alloys with 3 wt.% Zn elements tend to undergo a dynamic reversion softening mechanism.
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spelling doaj.art-52c1e40d08644cfd90ab7cca0613ca252023-12-01T21:33:50ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-06-011513442010.3390/ma15134420The Effect of (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce Phase Content on the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr AlloyYuguang Li0Feng Guo1Huisheng Cai2Yiwei Wang3Liang Liu4School of Material Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaSchool of Material Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaSchool of Material Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaSchool of Material Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaSchool of Material Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, ChinaThe quantitative study of rare earth compounds is important for the improvement of existing magnesium alloy systems and the design of new magnesium alloys. In this paper, the effective separation of matrix and compound in Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr alloy was achieved by a low-temperature chemical phase separation technique. The mass fraction of the (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce compound was determined and the effect of the (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce phase content on the heat deformation organization and properties was investigated. The results show that the Mg–Zn–Ce compound in both the as-cast and the homogeneous alloys is (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce. (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce phase formation depends on the content and the ratio of Zn and Ce elements in the initial residual melt of the eutectic reaction. The Zn/Ce mass ratios below 2.5 give the highest compound contents for different Zn contents, 5.262 wt.% and 7.040 wt.%, respectively. The increase in the amount of the (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce phase can significantly reduce the critical conditions for dynamic recrystallization formation. Both the critical strain and the stress decrease with increasing rare earth content. The reduction of the critical conditions and the particle-promoted nucleation mechanism work together to increase the amount of dynamic recrystallization. In addition, it was found that alloys with 6 wt.% Zn elements tend to undergo a dynamic recrystallization softening mechanism, while alloys with 3 wt.% Zn elements tend to undergo a dynamic reversion softening mechanism.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4420Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr alloy(Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce phasephase separationthermal deformationquantitative analysis
spellingShingle Yuguang Li
Feng Guo
Huisheng Cai
Yiwei Wang
Liang Liu
The Effect of (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce Phase Content on the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr Alloy
Materials
Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr alloy
(Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce phase
phase separation
thermal deformation
quantitative analysis
title The Effect of (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce Phase Content on the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr Alloy
title_full The Effect of (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce Phase Content on the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr Alloy
title_fullStr The Effect of (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce Phase Content on the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr Alloy
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce Phase Content on the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr Alloy
title_short The Effect of (Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce Phase Content on the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr Alloy
title_sort effect of mg zn sub 12 sub ce phase content on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of mg zn ce zr alloy
topic Mg–Zn–Ce–Zr alloy
(Mg, Zn)<sub>12</sub>Ce phase
phase separation
thermal deformation
quantitative analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4420
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