Effect of Rare Earth Element Nd on Microstructure and Properties of High Aluminum Magnesium Alloy

Effects of rare earth element Nd content on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-10 Al-Zn alloys are stud-ied.Resultsshow that after adding rare earths, the alloys are mainly composed of a-Mg, β-Mg₁₇Al₂ and Al₂Nd phases, and that Al₂Nd phase distributes in the shape of flakes. When adding content of Nd is 2.5%,the maximum tensile strength and elon-gation are 130 MPa and 4.37%. Fracture analysis shows that the rare earth magnesium alloy is plastic fracture.