Texture and stretch formability of rolled Mg-Zn-RE(Y, Ce, and Gd) alloys at room temperature

To develop a new magnesium alloy with excellent formability at room temperature, the effect of Y, Ce, and Gd addition on texture and stretch formability of Mg-1.5Zn alloys was carried out. The result shows that Y, Ce, and Gd addition in Mg-1.5Zn alloys can effectively weaken and modify the basal plane texture, characterized by TD-split texture in which the position of basal is titled from normal direction (ND) toward transverse direction (TD). When Mg-1.5Zn alloy with Gd addition appears low texture intensity and TD-split texture, where the position of basal poles is tilted by about +/- 35A degrees from ND toward to TD, the largest Erichsen value of 7.0 and the elongation rate reaches 29.1 % in TD direction. However, Y and Ce addition in Mg-1.5Zn alloys promote a large number of second phase particles, which cancel the contribution of the unique basal texture to stretch formability and ductility.