Microstructures and properties of reciprocatingly extruded Mg-6.4Zn-1.1Y alloys

An icosahedral Mg3 YZn6 quasicrystalline phase can be produced in Mg-Zn-Y system alloys when a proper amount of Zn and Y is contained, and it is feasible to prepare the quasicrystal phase-reinforced low-density magnesium alloy. In this article, phase constituents and the effect of reciprocating extrusion on microstructures and properties of the as-cast Mg-6.4Zn-1.1Y alloy are analyzed. The microstructure of the as-cast Mg-6.4Zn-1.1Y alloy consists of the α-Mg solid solution, icosahedral Mg3Y2Zn3 quasicrystal, and Mg3 YiZn2 and MgZn2 compounds. After the alloy was reciprocatingly extruded for four passes, grains were refined, Mg3 Yi Znz and MgZn2 phases dissolved into the matrix, whereas, Mg3 YZn6 precipitated and distributed uniformly. The alloy possesses the best performance at this state; the tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation are 323.4 MPa, 258.2 MPa, and 19.7%, respectively. In comparison with that of the as-cast alloy, the tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of the reciprocatingly extruded alloy increase by 258.3%, 397.5%, and 18 times, respectively. It is concluded that reciprocating extrusion can substantially improve the properties of the as-cast Mg-6.4Zn-1.1 Y alloy, particularly for elongation. The high performance of the Mg-6.4Zn-1.1Y alloy after reciprocating extrusion can be attributed to dispersion strengthening and grain-refined microstructures.