High strength extruded Mg–5Zn–2Nd–1.5Y–0.6Zr–0.4Ca alloy produced by electromagnetic casting

As-cast microstructures of Mg–5Zn–2Nd–1.5Y–0.6Zr–0.4Ca electromagnetic casting alloy were characterized in detail, revealing the presence of W-phase (Mg3RE2Zn3) at grain boundaries. After hot extrusion at 643 K with two extrusion ratios of 38 and 22 respectively followed homogenization at 673 K for 16 h, the alloy showed an ultrafine grain size of 2–5 μm due to dynamic recrystallization in the course of hot extrusion, and exhibited a high strength of 357 MPa at room temperature, which can partially be attributed to the MgZn2 type Laves phase precipitating during hot extrusion.