Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Mg-7Gd-3Y-1Nd-1Zn-0.5Zr alloy

X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and tensile tests at room temperature (RT) were performed to investigate the effect of homogenization on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Mg-7Gd-3Y-1Nd-1Zn-0.5Zr (mass fraction, %) alloy. The results indicate that the microstructure of the as-cast alloy is composed of α-Mg, (Mg, Zn)3RE phase and stacking fault (SF), the homogenization results in the disappearance of (Mg, Zn)3RE phase and stacking fault (SF) as well as the emergence of 14H-type long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation of the as-cast alloy are 187 MPa, 143 MPa and 3.1%, and the UTS, YS and elongation of the as-homogenized alloy are 229 MPa, 132 MPa and 7.2%, respectively.