Influence of yttrium addition on recrystallization, texture and mechanical properties of binary Mg–Y alloys

In the present study, the influence of yttrium (Y) addition on the recrystallization, texture and mechanical properties of Mg–Y alloys has been examined. In particular, the properties of two binary Mg–Y alloys viz. Mg–5Y and Mg–10Y have been compared. The addition Y appears to enhance the propensity of contraction twinning and double twinning. This also results in variable stored energy prior to recrystallization in the Mg–5Y and Mg–10Y alloys. The results suggested that increasing the Y content substantially retards the recrystallization kinetics, which was attributed to the increase in the extent of pinning of the grain boundaries due to an increase in the solutes. Moreover, increasing the amount of Y was also found to significantly weaken the texture in both the as-rolled and annealed conditions. Overall, Mg–10Y alloy exhibited much better mechanical properties as compared to Mg–5Y alloy.