J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2019, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (7): 1368-1377.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2019.01.019

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of samarium content on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-0.5Zn-0.5Zr alloy

Kai Guanab, Fanzhi Mengc1(), Pengfei Qinad, Qiang Yanga*(), Dongdong Zhanga, Baishun Lia, Wei Suna, Shuhui Lvc, Yuanding Huange*(), Norbert Horte, Jian Mengab   

  1. aState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
    bUniversity of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China;
    cSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China
    dKey Laboratory of Superlight Material and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
    eMagIC-Magnesium Innovation Centre, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Max-Planck Strasse 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
  • Received:2018-12-26 Revised:2019-01-18 Accepted:2019-01-19 Online:2019-07-20 Published:2019-06-20
  • Contact: Yang Qiang,Huang Yuanding
  • About author:

    1These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract:

Effects of samarium (Sm) content (0, 2.0, 3.5, 5.0, 6.5 wt%) on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-0.5Zn-0.5 Zr alloy under as-cast and as-extruded states were thoroughly investigated. Results indicate that grains of the as-cast alloys are gradually refined as Sm content increases. The dominant intermetallic phase changes from Mg3Sm to Mg41Sm5 till Sm content exceeds 5.0 wt%. The dynamically precipitated intermetallic phase during hot-extrusion in all Sm-containing alloys is Mg3Sm. The intermetallic particles induced by Sm addition could act as heterogeneous nucleation sites for dynamic recrystallization during hot extrusion. They promoted dynamic recrystallization via the particle stimulated nucleation mechanism, and resulted in weakening the basal texture in the as-extruded alloys. Sm addition can significantly enhance the strength of the as-extruded Mg-0.5Zn-0.5 Zr alloy at room temperature, with the optimal dosage of 3.5 wt%. The optimal yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) are 368 MPa and 383 MPa, which were enhanced by approximately 23.1% and 20.8% compared with the Sm-free alloy, respectively. Based on microstructural analysis, the dominant strengthening mechanisms are revealed to be grain boundary strengthening and dispersion strengthening.

Key words: Magnesium alloys, Samarium, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Microstructure, Mechanical properties