Effect of pre-deformation on aging characteristics and mechanical properties of Mg-Gd-Nd-Zr alloy

The effect of plastic deformation prior to artificial aging on the aging characteristics and properties of a Mg-11Gd-2Nd-0.5Zr (mass fraction, %) alloy was investigated. After solution treatment at 525 °C for 4 h, the alloy was subjected to cold stretching deformation of 0%, 5% and 10%, respectively. The as-deformed specimens possess high density of dislocations and mechanical twins, which increase with elevated deformation. As compared with non-stretched alloy, the stretched alloy shows accelerated age-hardening response and slightly enhanced peak hardness when aged at 200 °C. Comparison of the microstructures in undeformed and deformed specimens after 200 °C, 24 h aging reveals that pre-deformation induces the heterogeneous nucleation of precipitations at dislocations and twin boundaries in addition to the homogeneous precipitation in the matrix. Room and high temperature tensile test results show that pre-deformation enhances the strength of the alloy, especially at room temperature, though the ductility declines. The improvement in strength of deformed and aged alloy is attributed to the combined strengthening effect of precipitates, deformation structures and grain boundaries.