Study on Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Mg-3Sn-1Mn-xLa Alloy by Backward Extrusion

• Published in: Materials 2023-06, Vol.16 (13), p.4588
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xuefei, Du, Baoyi, Cao, Yuejie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Backward extrusion; Deformation; Dimpling; Dislocations; Elongation; Fracture surfaces; Grain boundaries; Grain size; Intermetallic compounds; Magnesium alloys; Magnesium base alloys; Magnesium compounds; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Optical microscopes; Optical properties; Precipitation hardening; Solidification; Solids; Specialty metals industry; Spheroidizing; Stannides; Temperature; Tensile strength; Tensile tests
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma16134588

Mg-3Sn-1Mn-xLa alloy bars were prepared using backward extrusion, and the effects of the La content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the alloy were systematically studied using an optical microscope (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and tensile tests. The results of this research show that the Mg Sn phases were mainly formed at the α-Mg grain boundaries and within the grains in the Mg-3Sn-1Mn alloy. After adding a certain amount of La, the plate-shaped MgSnLa compounds consisting of Mg La , Mg Sn, and La Sn gradually disappeared in the α-Mg matrix and grain boundaries. With an increase in La content, the Mg Sn phase in the crystal was gradually refined and spheroidized. When the content of La reached 1.5%, the tensile strength of the alloy reached 300 Mpa and the elongation reached 12.6%, i.e., 25% and 85% increases, respectively, compared to the Mg-3Sn-1Mn alloy. The plate-shaped compound of Mg-3Sn-1Mn-1.5La had an average length of 3000 ± 50 nm, while the width was 350 ± 10 nm. Meanwhile, the extruded alloy's grain size was significantly refined, and there were many small cleavage steps and dimples in the fracture surface of the alloy. When the La content reached 2%, the alloy performance showed a downward trend due to the coarsening of the grains. The formed plate-shaped MgSnLa compounds and Mg Sn phases were consistent with the α-Mg matrix. They effectively pinned the dislocations and grain boundaries, which is the main reason for strengthening the mechanical properties of extrusion alloys.