Role of Alloying Elements in the Mechanical Behaviors of An Mg-Zn-Zr-Er Alloy

The mechanical behavior of the as-extruded and heat-treated Mg-1.5Zn-0.6Zr and Mg-1.5Zn-0.6Zr-2Er alloys was investigated and correlated with microstructure evolution. Deformation mechanisms are detailed. No evidence of twinning was observed under compression in the Er-bearing alloy throughout the grain size range of ~5 to 27 μm at a strain rate of 0.001 or 1/s. The compressive yield strength followed a Hall–Petch relation with a slope of ~10.3 MPa/mm^1/2. Er played a major role in the pyramidal 〈c+a〉 slip that was identified as a dominant plastic deformation mechanism. The CRSS for 〈c+a〉 slip system was greatly reduced and was 98 MPa in the as-extruded alloy. While it did not change the mechanical response of the Mg-1.5Zn-0.6Zr-2Er alloy, annealing was found to promote dissolution of Zn in the Mg matrix, leading to an increase in CRSS for extension twinning in the heat-treated Mg-1.5Zn-0.6Zr alloy. As a result, twinning was only observed under a higher strain rate of 1/s in compression. The CRSS for extension twinning for the heat-treated alloy with a grain size of ~28 μm was estimated to be 40 MPa, a bit lower than that for the Er-bearing alloy of the same grain size, which was 42 MPa.