Microstructure and Properties of Extruded Single and Dual Phase Magnesium-Lithium Alloy
Mg-8.6Li-6.5Zn-1.4Y and Mg-9.6Li-8.9Zn-1.9Y as-cast magnesium-lithium alloys were deformed under the same hot extrusion process.The microstructures,density and mechanical properties of the two magnesium-lithium alloys were studied.The results show that Mg-8.6Li-6.5Zn-1.4Y as-cast alloy was mainly composed of α-Mg phase,β-Li phase and Mg3Zn6Y1 phase,which was(α+β)dual phase magnesium-lithium alloy.Mg-9.6Li-8.9Zn-1.9Y as-cast alloy was mainly composed of β-Li phase and Mg3Zn6 Y1phase,which was β single phase magnesium-lithium alloy.After hot extrusion deformation,α-Mg phase of the dual phase magnesium-lithium alloy deformed in strip shape along the extrusion direction,and in the single phase magnesium-lithium alloy a few of α-Mg phase in small size were formed;Mg3Zn6 Y1 phase in the two alloys broke and was deformed along the extrusion direction.Compared with those of the dual phase alloy,the average grain size of the single phase magnesium-lithium alloy was smaller,and the average size and volume fraction of the second phase(Mg3Zn6Y1,Mg3Zn3Y2,LiMgZn phases)were larger,and the hardness,yield strength and tensile strength were higher,which increased by 2.72%,7.53%and 3.59%,respectively,and the elongation percentage after fracture decreased slightly.