Mechanical anisotropy of extruded Mg-10Gd-2Y-0.5Zr alloy

Tensile and compressive tests were performed on extruded Mg-10Gd-2Y-0.5Zr (mass fraction, %) alloy specimens with different tilt angles relative to extrusion direction. The microstructures were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Calculations of the orientation factors for basal slip were done for that existed texture. The results show that the alloy doesn't show tensile-compressive yield strength asymmetry, and the highest flow stress is appeared along the extrusion direction. Meanwhile the extruded textures are much more randomized. The reason may be that the addition of rare-earth is benefit to activate the non-basal slips, especially pyramidal < c+a > slip. The reduction of c/a ratio is helpful to enhance the symmetry of the Mg crystal, which decreases the critical resolved shear stress of < c+a > slip.