Effects of second phases on fracture behavior of Mg-10Gd-3Y-0.6Zr alloy

The effects of second phases on the fracture behavior of Mg-10Gd-3Y-0.6Zr alloy were investigated. The results show that the fracture mode can be generally described as ductile transgranular fracture in as-extruded condition and intergranular fracture in peak-aged condition. In as-extruded condition, the ductile transgranular fracture occurs by the formation and transgranular propagation of the microcrack from the broken primary phases. However, as the collaboration effects of precipitates inside grains and on the grain boundaries have the tendency to reduce the cohesive strength of the grain boundary, and make the grain boundaries the favorable path for crack propagation, the intergranular fracture occurs in peak-aged condition.