Effects of ultrasonic treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-6Zn-0.5Y-2Sn alloy

The effects of the ultrasonic treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-6Zn-0.5Y-2Sn alloy were investigated. The results show that the ultrasonic treatment has significant effect on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-6Zn-0.5Y-2Sn alloy. The phases in Mg-6Zn-0.5Y-2Sn alloy are α-Mg, MgZn2, MgSnY, Mg2Sn, and a small amount of I-phase. With the application of ultrasonic treatment, I-phase nearly disappears, and with increasing the ultrasonic treatment power, the coarse dendrites gradually change into roundish equiaxed grains. The second phases at the α-Mg boundaries transform from coarse, semicontinuous and non-uniform to fine, discontinuous, uniform and dispersive. When the ultrasonic treatment power is 700 W, the best comprehensive mechanical properties of Mg-6Zn-0.5Y-2Sn alloy are obtained. Compared with the untreated alloy, the 0.2% tensile yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation are improved by 28%, 30% and 67%, respectively.