The Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Diffusion, Thermal Expansion, and Mechanical Properties of Mg-2Nd-4Zn Alloys Subjected to Aging Treatment.

The effect of T4 and T6 treatment on the microstructures, precipitates, thermal expansion and thermal conductivity properties of Mg-2Nd-4Zn alloys was systemically investigated. The number of NdZn₂ phase increased subjected to T6 treatment. The coherent relationship between the NdZn₂ phase and Mg matrix was observed in the Mg-2Nd-4Zn alloys, which plays a great influence on improving the thermal expansion, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of Mg-2Nd-4Zn alloys. The decrease in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the thermal conductivity of Mg alloys were ascribed to the existence of solute atoms in alloys after the T4 treatment. It was also found that the T6-treated alloy has smaller area of the hysteresis loop, which has better thermal stability. Therefore, the high performance was mainly due to T6 treatment, the thermal conductivity of T6-treated Mg-2Nd-4Zn alloy is 124.4 K·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at room temperature, and TYS of 235.5 MPa, CYS of 393.7 MPa, elongation of tension and compression are 31 and 27%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]