Structure and Mechanical and Corrosion Properties of a Magnesium Mg–Y–Nd–Zr Alloy after High Pressure Torsion

The structure and the properties of an Mg–Y–Nd–Zr alloy (WE43) are studied after high pressure torsion (HPT) in the temperature range 20–300°C. Structure refinement proceeds mainly by deformation twinning with the formation of a partial nanocrystalline structure with a grain size of 30–100 nm inside deformation twins. The WE43 alloy is shown to be aged during heating after HPT due to the decomposition of a magnesium solid solution. HPT at room temperature and subsequent aging causes maximum hardening. It is shown that HPT significantly accelerates the decomposition of a magnesium solid solution. HPT at all temperatures considerably increases the tensile strength and the yield strength upon tensile tests and significantly decreases plasticity. Subsequent aging additionally hardens the WE43 alloy. A potentiodynamic study shows that the corrosion resistance of this alloy after HPT increases. However, subsequent aging degrades the corrosion properties of the alloy.