Microstructure evolution of Mg–11Gd–4.5Y–1Nd–1.5Zn–0.5Zr (wt%) alloy during deformation and its effect on strengthening.

Microstructure and texture evolutions during tensile and compression deformation of an as-extruded Mg–11Gd–4.5Y–1Nd–1.5Zn–0.5Zr (wt%) alloy have been investigated using in-situ synchrotron radiation diffraction and subsequent microscopy. The alloy consists of 〈 10 1 ¯ 0 〉 fiber texture, { 11 2 ¯ 0 }[0001] and { 11 2 ¯ 0 }〈 10 1 ¯ 0 〉 texture components prior to deformation. The texture evolves from [0001] to 〈 10 1 ¯ 0 〉 in tension, but from 〈 10 1 ¯ 0 〉 to [0001] in compression. The evolution of texture is attributed to the activity of the tensile twinning and non-basal 〈 a 〉 type slip. The tendency of texture evolution depends on the favorable texture component for the activation of above deformation modes. The grain refinement, Mg 5 (Gd, Y, Nd) and LPSO phases, and the texture contribute to the improvement in strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]