Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Consolidated Mg-Zn-Y Alloy

The microstructure and mechanical properties of the Mg97Zn1Y2 alloy prepared by spark plasma sintering of gas atomized powders have been investigated. After consolidation, precipitates were observed to form in the alpha-Mg solid solution rnatrix of the Mg97Zn1Y2 alloy. These precipitates consisted of Mg12YZn and Mg24Y5 phases. The density of the consolidated bulk Mg-Zn-Y alloy was 1.86 g/cm(3). The ultimate tensile strength and elongation were dependent on the consolidation temperature, which were in the ranges of 280 to 293 MPa and 8.5 to 20.8 %, respectively.