Enhanced age hardening response and creep resistance of Mg-Gd alloys containing Zn

Mg-6Gd-0.6Zr (wt.%) alloy exhibits little age hardening during isothermal ageing treatments and has low creep strengths. Additions of 1-2 wt.% Zn to this alloy significantly enhance the age hardening response and the creep strength. The remarkable improvement in strength and creep resistance is associated with a uniform and dense distribution of basal precipitate plates that are not observed in the Zn-free alloy.