Microstructure-Property Regulation in a Large-Size Mg-9.4Gd-5.8Y-1Zn-0.5Zr Alloy by Differential Phase Electromagnetic Semi-Continuous Casting and Homogenization

Jia, Yonghui; Ning, Fangkun; Cheng, Yao; Xin, Yunchang; Jia, Weitao

doi:10.3390/ma19020282

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Microstructure-Property Regulation in a Large-Size Mg-9.4Gd-5.8Y-1Zn-0.5Zr Alloy by Differential Phase Electromagnetic Semi-Continuous Casting and Homogenization

by

Yonghui Jia

¹,

Fangkun Ning

^2,*,

Yao Cheng

¹,

Yunchang Xin

¹ and

Weitao Jia

^2,*

¹

Key Laboratory of Light-weight Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, China

²

School of Mechanical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Materials 2026, 19(2), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020282

Submission received: 3 December 2025 / Revised: 21 December 2025 / Accepted: 24 December 2025 / Published: 9 January 2026

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microstructure Engineering of Metals and Alloys, 3rd Edition)

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Abstract

Based on a novel semi-continuous casting mold with independent primary cooling regulation, a large-size Mg-9.4Gd-5.8Y-1Zn-0.5Zr alloy billet (Ø330 mm) was successfully fabricated via differential phase electromagnetic vibration casting. This process significantly improved microstructural homogeneity, with grain sizes ranging from 117 µm to 130 µm across the billet and elemental segregation of Gd and Y below 3%. Homogenization at 520 °C for 5 h effectively dissolved grain boundary eutectic phases; promoted diffusion of Gd, Y, and Zn into the α-Mg matrix; and stimulated the precipitation of fine LPSO lamellae. These microstructural improvements resulted in an excellent tensile strength of 208.4 MPa and elongation of 24.4%, demonstrating an optimal strength–ductility balance achieved through precise thermal processing.

Keywords: Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy; macroscopic segregation; differential phase electromagnetic semi-continuous casting; homogenization; solid solution strengthening; LPSO phase

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MDPI and ACS Style

Jia, Y.; Ning, F.; Cheng, Y.; Xin, Y.; Jia, W. Microstructure-Property Regulation in a Large-Size Mg-9.4Gd-5.8Y-1Zn-0.5Zr Alloy by Differential Phase Electromagnetic Semi-Continuous Casting and Homogenization. Materials 2026, 19, 282. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020282

AMA Style

Jia Y, Ning F, Cheng Y, Xin Y, Jia W. Microstructure-Property Regulation in a Large-Size Mg-9.4Gd-5.8Y-1Zn-0.5Zr Alloy by Differential Phase Electromagnetic Semi-Continuous Casting and Homogenization. Materials. 2026; 19(2):282. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020282

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jia, Yonghui, Fangkun Ning, Yao Cheng, Yunchang Xin, and Weitao Jia. 2026. "Microstructure-Property Regulation in a Large-Size Mg-9.4Gd-5.8Y-1Zn-0.5Zr Alloy by Differential Phase Electromagnetic Semi-Continuous Casting and Homogenization" Materials 19, no. 2: 282. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020282

APA Style

Jia, Y., Ning, F., Cheng, Y., Xin, Y., & Jia, W. (2026). Microstructure-Property Regulation in a Large-Size Mg-9.4Gd-5.8Y-1Zn-0.5Zr Alloy by Differential Phase Electromagnetic Semi-Continuous Casting and Homogenization. Materials, 19(2), 282. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020282

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Microstructure-Property Regulation in a Large-Size Mg-9.4Gd-5.8Y-1Zn-0.5Zr Alloy by Differential Phase Electromagnetic Semi-Continuous Casting and Homogenization

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