Strength Improvement in ZK60 Magnesium Alloy Induced by Pre-deformation and Heat Treatment

The influence of pre-deformation and heat treatment on mechanicalproperties of as-extruded ZK60 alloy was investigated.The experimentalresults indicated that the solid solution,pre-cold rolling and artificialaging treatments remarkably improved the mechanicalstrength of alloys compared with the asextruded condition.Especially,pre-cold rolling in 5% reduction combined with artificialaging at 150 ℃ for 20 h was determined as the optimum heat treatment condition,which resulted in a yield strength of 333 MPa with an increment of 87 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of 373 MPa.High density of nanoscale precipitates in α-Mg matrix observed in this sample was beneficialto enhancing the strength.The as-extruded sample showed a typicalbrittle fracture while the solution treated sample exhibited ductile-fragile failure characterized by cleavage fractures,river patterns,and tear ridges.And the sample after pre-cold rolling combined with aging presented more equiaxialdimples with a great amount of cracked particles in them.The above-mentioned observations were analyzed in terms of microstructure and possible strengthening mechanism in the extruded ZK60 alloy.