Effect of yttrium on microstructures and mechanical properties of hot rolled AZ61 wrought magnesium alloy
(School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University,
Changsha 410083, China)
Changsha 410083, China)
Abstract: The microstructures and mechanical properties of the rolled AZ61 alloys containing different contents of Y (0, 0.5, 0.9, 1.4%Y respectively) were studied. Phase analysis was performed by X-ray diffraction(XRD). Microstructures of experimental materials were observed by optical microscope(OM) and scanning electron microscope(SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS). The results show that the alloys with variable Y contents all contain a second-phase Al2Y. The amount of Al2Y increases with the increasing of Y content while that of Mg17Al12 decreases. Moreover, Y refines the microstructures of as-cast and rolled alloys. The finest average grain size is obtained in the alloy containing 0.9%Y with the best mechanical properties. When the Y content is up to 1.4%, Al2Y phase in the alloy coarsens, which leads to the drop of tensile strength.
Key words: AZ61 alloy; rare earth; yttrium; hot rolling; microstructure; mechanical properties