Microstructures and precipitation behaviours of Mg94Y4Zn2 (at.%) extruded alloy during solution treatment and ageing processes were investigated. Three major phases were observed in the as-cast Mg94Zn2Y4 alloy: α-Mg, block shaped 18R long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase and Mg24Y5 cuboid particles. After homogenization and extrusion, the block shaped LPSO phase changed into plate-like shape aligned along the direction of extrusion. During solution treatment, a small fraction of LPSO phase was transformed from 18R structure to 14H type. The nano-scale β′ phase with its close-packed planes being perpendicular to the direction of both α-Mg and LPSO structure was precipitated at ageing stage. The coexistence of β′ and LPSO phase contributes to the strengthening of the alloy, with microhardness for the matrix and LPSO structures reaching 145.8 and 155.0 HV, respectively.

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg94Y4Zn2 and Mg94Y4Zn1Ni1 alloys have been systematically investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and an electronic universal testing machine. The as-cast WZ42 alloy is composed of α-Mg matrix, 18R LPSO (long period stacking ordered) phase and a small fraction of Mg24(Y,Zn)5 phases. With the replacement of 1 at% Ni atoms, the phase structures in WZN411 alloy remain unchanged, but their chemical compositions vary obviously. A great number of stacking faults exist in α-Mg grains of WZ42 alloy, while they are barely observed in WZN411 alloy. After annealing at 500 °C for 12 h, there are plenty of 14H LPSO lamellas formed in WZ42 alloy and many nano-scale α-Mg slices generated between 18R phases. In contrast, the 18R in WZN411 alloy is thermally stable, and both the formation of α-Mg slices and 14H lamellas are restricted for annealed WZN411 alloy. Tensile tests indicate that the as-extruded WZ42 alloy exhibits ultimate tensile strength of 390 MPa, tensile yield strength of 246 MPa and elongation of 2.8% at room temperature. With the replacement of 1 at% Ni, the UTS and TYS of WZN411 alloy increase by 20 MPa and the ductility improves as well. The improvement of comprehensive mechanical properties could be ascribed to the substitution of 1 at% Ni element, which could enhance the degree of solid-solution strengthening and stimulate the thermal stability of 18R phase during annealing and extrusion processes.

The microstructure and mechanical properties of the extruded Mg95.5Y3Zn1.5 alloy under different heat treatment were systematically investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and an electronic universal testing machine. The results show that the as-extruded alloy is composed of 18R LPSO stripes and α-Mg matrix with stacking faults (SFs) in it. The fine 14H LPSO lamellas are formed in α-Mg matrix near the areas of SFs during solution treatment at 500 °C for 8 h. A great number of fine β′ phases are precipitated in the α-Mg matrix of T6-treated (aging of the T4-treated alloy at 225 °C for 24 h) and T5-treated (aging of the as-extruded alloy at 225 °C for 32 h) alloys. Moreover, the SFs which were first observed in extruded alloy are retained in T5-staged specimen, and exhibit a cross arrangement with β′ precipitates. The absence of 14H LPSO phase in T5-treated alloy indicates that the 14H structure cannot be formed during aging at 225 °C. Tensile tests reveal that the presence of 14H lamellas improves the ductility of the alloy, but decreases the strength, suggesting that the 18R LPSO stripes are more effective in strengthening the alloy than 14H LPSO lamellas. The T6-staged alloy exhibits superior comprehensive mechanical properties with ultimate tensile strength of 358 MPa, tensile yield strength of 226 MPa and elongation of 6.1% at room temperature.