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 ±35° 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.