Effect of Extrusion Temperatures on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Mg-6Zn-1Mn-4Sn-0.5Y Alloy

The microstructural evolution and the mechanical properties of Mg-6Zn-1Mn-4Sn-0.5Y wrought alloy extruded at 360 and 420 °C were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) and tensile test. The results show that the phase compositions of as-cast and extruded alloys consist of α-Mg, Mn, Mg7Zn3, Mg2Sn, and MgSnY phases. As the extrusion temperature increases from 360 °C to 420 °C, dynamic recrystallization completes and grain growth occurs. The yield strength, the ultimate tensile strength and the elongation decrease from 259 MPa, 350 MPa and 18.3% to 239 MPa, 332 MPa and 12.5%, respectively. The theoretical calculations combined with the experimental results reveal that fine grain strengthening and solid solution strengthening play the dominating role in the enhancement of yield strength.