Influence of solution and aging on the microstructures and mechanical properties of complex deformed WE93 alloy

• The solution and aging system of complex deformed WE93 alloy were developed.
• The function of mishmetal in heat treatment processes was discussed.
• The fracture mechanisms of the alloys were compared.

Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, hardness testing, and mechanical property testing were performed to study the influence of solution (T4) and aging (T6) on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the WE93 magnesium alloy. A reasonable solution treatment and an aging regime were developed, and the fracture features of the alloy in different states were analyzed. Results show that complex deformation produces microstructures that are largely characterized by deformation-precipitated Mg–Y phase (Mg24Y5), in addition to those with cubic Mg–Y and Mg–MM phases, which are both undissolved after homogenization. The optimum solution treatment condition for the alloy is a holding temperature of 490 °C for 2 h. After solution treatment, the precipitated Mg–Y phase re-dissolves and grain size grows to a limited extent, which may be attributed primarily to the pinning effect of the Mg–MM phase on the grain boundary. The reasonable aging regime was maintained at 225 °C for 40 h. After the solution and aging treatments, the ultimate tensile strength of the alloy at room temperature reaches 375 MPa but the elongation is only 3%. As indicted by the fracture behavior of the alloy, the secondary cracks of the extruded alloy and the solid-solution alloy occur mainly in the Mg–MM phase with few transcrystalline fractures. After peak aging, however, transcrystalline cracks appear on the grains at room and high temperatures. Under a multi-strengthening mechanism, the mutual coordinating effect may depend primarily on service temperature.