Enhancement of mechanical properties of duplex Mg-9Li-3Al alloy by Sn and Y addition

For enhancement of mechanical properties in Mg-9Li-3Al alloys, Mg-9Li-3Al duplex alloys were alloyed by addition of Sn and Y. Microstructure evolution and mechanical property response of as-cast Mg-9Li-3Al alloys by alloying with Sn and Y were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and tensile tests. The results indicate that considerable blocky dendrites of primary alpha phase in Mg-9Li-3Al alloys become lath-like due to the addition of Sn. With addition of Y, Mg-9Li-3Al alloy consists of both block-like and lath-like alpha-Mg dendrites. The as-cast Mg-9Li-3Al-1Sn-1Y alloy shows a yield strength of 118 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 148 MPa and the elongation to failure of 21%. Improvement in both strength and elongation of Mg-9Li-3Al alloys with Sn and Y addition is attributed to the combined action of MgLi2Sn and Al2Y intermetallic compounds.