Microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism analysis of novel Mg-RE-Ag alloy during heat treatment

Precipitation strengthening is crucial for Mg-RE alloys to achieve excellent mechanical properties. Herein, the high-strength Mg-6Gd-2Y-1.5Ag-1Nd-0.4Zn-0.5Zr alloy was designed and developed by building multi-orientated nano-precipitates. The corresponding microstructure and strengthening mechanism...

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Main Authors: Tao Ma, Sicong Zhao, Erjun Guo, Lili Zhao, Rui Fan, Yu Zhang, Liping Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-11-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S223878542201479X
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author Tao Ma
Sicong Zhao
Erjun Guo
Lili Zhao
Rui Fan
Yu Zhang
Liping Wang
author_facet Tao Ma
Sicong Zhao
Erjun Guo
Lili Zhao
Rui Fan
Yu Zhang
Liping Wang
author_sort Tao Ma
collection DOAJ
description Precipitation strengthening is crucial for Mg-RE alloys to achieve excellent mechanical properties. Herein, the high-strength Mg-6Gd-2Y-1.5Ag-1Nd-0.4Zn-0.5Zr alloy was designed and developed by building multi-orientated nano-precipitates. The corresponding microstructure and strengthening mechanism were comprehensively investigated utilizing XRD, OM, SEM, TEM, Brinell hardness and tensile tests under various heat treatment conditions. The results indicated that the as-cast alloy consisted of the primary α-Mg matrix and Mg5(Gd,Y,Nd,Ag,Zn)-type eutectic phase at the grain boundaries. With the increase of solid solution temperature and time, the grain size of the alloy gradually increased. After solution treatment at 510 °C for 10 h, solute atoms from the eutectic phase fully diffused into the matrix, and the supersaturated solid solution was obtained. The solution-treated alloy was subsequently aged, and multiple types of nanoscale precipitates formed in the matrix. The precipitation evolution can be divided into three distinct stages. At the early aging stage, the fine solute clusters were the primary precipitates. And then a mass of basal γ'' and prismatic β′ phases occurred uniformly in the matrix at the peak-aged stage. After reaching the over-aged stage, the primary precipitates further transformed into coarse γ and β phases. The alloy achieved outstanding mechanical properties at both room and high temperatures after the peak-aged treatment, which was mainly related to the synergistic strengthening of the multi-orientated β′ and γ'' nano-precipitates. The peak-aged alloy's ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation were 370 MPa, 335 MPa, 2.8% at room temperature, and 258 MPa, 215 MPa, 11.8% at 300 °C, respectively.
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spelling doaj.art-e7aac134aad44600a1bd9c9938a8373b2022-12-22T03:53:18ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542022-11-0121692703Microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism analysis of novel Mg-RE-Ag alloy during heat treatmentTao Ma0Sicong Zhao1Erjun Guo2Lili Zhao3Rui Fan4Yu Zhang5Liping Wang6Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing and Intelligent Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, ChinaCorresponding author.; Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing and Intelligent Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, ChinaKey Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing and Intelligent Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, ChinaKey Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing and Intelligent Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, ChinaKey Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing and Intelligent Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, ChinaKey Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing and Intelligent Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, ChinaCorresponding author.; Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing and Intelligent Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, ChinaPrecipitation strengthening is crucial for Mg-RE alloys to achieve excellent mechanical properties. Herein, the high-strength Mg-6Gd-2Y-1.5Ag-1Nd-0.4Zn-0.5Zr alloy was designed and developed by building multi-orientated nano-precipitates. The corresponding microstructure and strengthening mechanism were comprehensively investigated utilizing XRD, OM, SEM, TEM, Brinell hardness and tensile tests under various heat treatment conditions. The results indicated that the as-cast alloy consisted of the primary α-Mg matrix and Mg5(Gd,Y,Nd,Ag,Zn)-type eutectic phase at the grain boundaries. With the increase of solid solution temperature and time, the grain size of the alloy gradually increased. After solution treatment at 510 °C for 10 h, solute atoms from the eutectic phase fully diffused into the matrix, and the supersaturated solid solution was obtained. The solution-treated alloy was subsequently aged, and multiple types of nanoscale precipitates formed in the matrix. The precipitation evolution can be divided into three distinct stages. At the early aging stage, the fine solute clusters were the primary precipitates. And then a mass of basal γ'' and prismatic β′ phases occurred uniformly in the matrix at the peak-aged stage. After reaching the over-aged stage, the primary precipitates further transformed into coarse γ and β phases. The alloy achieved outstanding mechanical properties at both room and high temperatures after the peak-aged treatment, which was mainly related to the synergistic strengthening of the multi-orientated β′ and γ'' nano-precipitates. The peak-aged alloy's ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation were 370 MPa, 335 MPa, 2.8% at room temperature, and 258 MPa, 215 MPa, 11.8% at 300 °C, respectively.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S223878542201479XMg-RE-Ag alloyMicrostructureMechanical propertiesHeat treatmentStrengthening mechanism
spellingShingle Tao Ma
Sicong Zhao
Erjun Guo
Lili Zhao
Rui Fan
Yu Zhang
Liping Wang
Microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism analysis of novel Mg-RE-Ag alloy during heat treatment
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Mg-RE-Ag alloy
Microstructure
Mechanical properties
Heat treatment
Strengthening mechanism
title Microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism analysis of novel Mg-RE-Ag alloy during heat treatment
title_full Microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism analysis of novel Mg-RE-Ag alloy during heat treatment
title_fullStr Microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism analysis of novel Mg-RE-Ag alloy during heat treatment
title_full_unstemmed Microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism analysis of novel Mg-RE-Ag alloy during heat treatment
title_short Microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism analysis of novel Mg-RE-Ag alloy during heat treatment
title_sort microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism analysis of novel mg re ag alloy during heat treatment
topic Mg-RE-Ag alloy
Microstructure
Mechanical properties
Heat treatment
Strengthening mechanism
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S223878542201479X
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