Fabrication of a fine-grained dilute Mg–Zn–Ce alloy with high mechanical properties via low-temperature extrusion
摘要
A dilute Mg-0.88Zn-0.34Ce (ZE10, wt.%) alloy with high mechanical properties was successfully fabricated via low-temperature extrusion. The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of ZE10 alloys obtained under different extrusion temperatures (250℃ and 300℃) and extrusion ratios (25 and 50) were systematically investigated. The alloy extruded at 250℃ exhibited a bimodal grain structure with an average grain size of approximately 1.62 μm. With increasing extrusion temperature and ratio, the microstructure transitioned from bimodal to fully dynamic recrystallized (DRXed), accompanied by an increase in average grain size. In the extruded ZE10 alloys, Zn and Ce elements co-segregated at grain boundaries (GBs), producing a pronounced solute drag effect that effectively refined the DRXed grains. This GB co-segregation became less pronounced at higher extrusion temperatures and ratios, thereby diminishing its grain-refining effect. Notably, the alloy extruded at 250℃ exhibited the optimum mechanical properties, with a tensile yield strength (TYS) of 315 MPa and an elongation (EL) of 8.5%. In contrast, alloys extruded at 300℃ demonstrated superior ductility, achieving elongations exceeding 30%. The enhanced mechanical properties of the ZE10 alloys are attributed to the combined effects of grain refinement, dynamic precipitation, and residual dislocations.