Origins of high ductility exhibited by an extruded magnesium alloy Mg-1.8Zn-0.2Ca: Experiments and crystal plasticity modeling

Low ductility and strength are major bottlenecks against Mg alloys' wide applications. In this work, we systematically design the composition and fabrication process for a low-alloyed Mg-Zn-Ca alloy, showing that it can be extruded at low temperatures (similar to 250 degrees C) and high speeds (similar to 2 mm/s). After the extrusion, this alloy exhibits a substantially weakened basal texture, relatively small grain size, very high tensile elongation (similar to 30%), and good strength. The origin of the considerably improved ductility was studied using a combination of three-dimensional atom probe tomography (3D-APT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) in conjunction with surface slip trace analysis, in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and elasto-plastic self-consistent (EPSC) modeling. Co-segregation of Zn and Ca atoms at a grain boundary is observed and associated with texture weakening and grain boundary mediated plasticity, both improving the ductility. While basal slip and prismatic slip are identified as the dominant deformation systems in the alloy, the ratio between their slip resistances is substantially reduced relative to pure Mg and most other Mg alloys, significantly contributing to the improved ductility of the alloy. This Mg-Zn-Ca alloy exhibiting excellent mechanical properties and low fabrication cost is a promising candidate for industrial productions. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Automated summary

Through systematic design of a low-alloyed Mg-Zn-Ca alloy, improved ductility and strength have been achieved, making it a promising candidate for industrial productions. The co-segregation of Zn and Ca atoms at grain boundaries contributes to the improved ductility of the alloy.