Reciprocating extrusion of rapidly solidified Mg–6Zn–1Y–0.6Ce–0.6Zr alloy

Mg–6.0%Zn–1.0%Y–0.6%Ce–0.6%Zr alloy was prepared by reciprocating extrusion (RE) from rapidly solidified (RS) comminuted ribbons. Tensile tests were performed at a strain rate of 4.0 × 10−4 s−1 and the engineering stress–strain curve contained two distinct yield regions. The first yield region had an upper and a lower yield point. Tensile yield strength of 336 MPa and elongation of 27% were achieved. The microstructures were analyzed with optical microscope, SEM and TEM. The average grain size of the matrix was ∼1.2 μm, and the dimension of the strengthening particles, homogeneously dispersed within the matrix, was ∼50 nm. The dimpled tensile fractures observed are characteristic of ductile fracture.