Microstructure Evolution and Local Hardness of Mg–Y–Zn Alloys Processed by ECAE

Abstract

Mg–9 at%Y–6 at%Zn and Mg–2 at%Y–1 at%Zn alloys were processed by equal-channel-angular extrusion (ECAE) to investigate their microstructure evolution and local hardness. The area fraction of the kink bands in the Mg–9 at%Y–6 at%Zn alloys increased with increasing the number of ECAE passes, resulting in higher hardness. In contrast, the number of kink boundaries in the local region near the indentation was almost constant. The relationship between the microstructure factors of the kink bands and the local hardness is discussed in comparison with the forged alloy. In the Mg–2 at%Y–1 at%Zn alloys, the microstructural evolution of the α-Mg matrix phase and long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase by 1-pass ECAE and the increase in local hardness were discussed.