采用聚焦离子束定点切割技术(Focused ion beam,FIB),透射电镜(Transmission electron microscopy,TEM)、高角度环形暗场扫描透射电镜(High angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy,HAADF-STEM)和扫描电镜(Scanning electron microscopy,SEM)等技术手段,对Mg-7Gd-5Y-1Nd-2Zn-0.5Zr合金铸态及(515℃,48 h)均匀化态的组织形貌进行观察分析。结果表明:铸态合金晶界共晶组织中含有(Mg,Zn)_(3)RE相(FCC,a=0.72 nm)、Mg_(5)(RE,Zn)相(FCC,a=2.24 nm)及块状长周期堆垛有序(Long-period stacking ordered,LPSO)相。其中LPSO相主要为18R结构,存在少量14H结构,局部区域存在少量不完整周期的LPSO结构;此外合金中存在分布于共晶相附近的微米级富RE相以及分布于晶粒内部的微米级富Zr颗粒。经过(515℃,48 h)均匀化热处理,晶界(Mg,Zn)_(3)RE相和Mg_(5)(RE,Zn)相完全回溶,残留相主要为14H-LPSO相,局部区域存在具有不同晶体结构的LPSO过渡相。在铸态合金的晶粒内部,沿[1120]_(a)晶带轴观察,发现存在几个原子面至纳米尺度的LPSO构建块,由不同数量的LPSO构建块单元(4个RE/Zn原子层)及Mg原子层交替堆垛构成,RE/Zn与Mg原子层堆垛次序不具备完整周期性;均匀化热处理后,晶内的LPSO构建块几乎回溶,仅剩下极少量单个LPSO构建块单元。沿[0001]_(a)晶带轴观察,晶粒内部存在多种分布方式的富RE/Zn原子柱,为Mg-Gd-Y系镁合金时效过程β′析出序列中GP区的早期结构。
X-ray diffraction （XRD）, optical microscopy （OM）, scanning electronic microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM） and tensile tests at room temperature （RT） were performed to investigate the effect of homogenization on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Mg-7Gd-3Y-1Nd-1Zn-0.5Zr （mass fraction,%） alloy. The results indicate that the microstructure of the as-cast alloy is composed of α-Mg, （Mg, Zn）3RE phase and stacking fault （SF）, the homogenization results in the disappearance of （Mg, Zn）3RE phase and stacking fault （SF） as well as the emergence of 14H-type long-period stacking ordered （LPSO） phase. The ultimate tensile strength （UTS）, yield strength （YS） and elongation of the as-cast alloy are 187 MPa, 143 MPa and 3.1%, and the UTS, YS and elongation of the as-homogenized alloy are 229 MPa, 132 MPa and 7.2%, respectively.
Morphology and crystal structure of β precipitate phase in Mg-7Gd-5Y-1Nd-0.5Zr (mass fraction, %) alloy were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Compositions were determined for β phase using thin foil energy dispersive spectroscopy. Precipitation at 400 ℃ involves formation of platelet and block-shaped β phase. The orientation relationship is and between β precipitate phase and α-Mg matrix with habit planes parallel to , and a composition of Mg5(Y0.4Gd0.4Nd0.2) is suggested for the β phase in Mg-7Gd-5Y-1Nd-0.5Zr alloy.
