Age hardening, fracture behavior and mechanical properties of QE22 Mg alloy

The microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture behavior of an as-received QE22 alloy have been investigated under different thermal conditions, including solution treated (ST), under aged (UA), peak aged (PA) and over aged (OA) conditions. A significant increase in hardness of 27%, yield strength of 60% and ultimate tensile strength of 19% was observed in peak aged sample as compared to solution treated sample. The improvements of mechanical strength properties are mainly associated with the metastable λ and β′ precipitates. Grain growth was not observed in the ST samples after subjecting to UA and PA treatments due to the presence of eutectic Mg12Nd particles along the grain boundaries. In over aged sample, significant grain growth occurred because of dissolution of eutectic phase particles. Different natures of crack initiation and propagation were observed under different thermal conditions during tensile testing at room temperature. The mode of failure of solution treated sample is transgranular, cleavage and twin boundary fractures. A mixed mode of transgranular, intergranular, cleavage and twin boundary failure is observed in both peak aged and over aged samples.