Effect of Mg24Y5 intermetallic particles on grain refinement of Mg-9Li alloy

The microstructures of the as-cast and as-extruded Mg-9Li-xY alloys (x = 0, 0.3; wt%) were observed to investigate the effect of Y on the Mg-9Li alloy, and the crystallographic calculations between Mg24Y5 and the matrix were examined on the basis of the edge-to-edge matching model. The results indicated that with the addition of 0.3 wt% Y, the average grain size of α-Mg phases in the as-cast Mg-9Li alloy and β-Li phases in the as-extruded Mg-9Li alloy were reduced remarkably, which was caused by the formation of Mg24Y5 intermetallic compound. Furthermore, crystallographic calculations confirmed that Mg24Y5 particles were effective grain refiners for both α-Mg and β-Li phases in Mg-9Li alloy.