Ageing hardening,microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-xY-1.5LPC-0.4Zr（x=0,2,4,6）alloys（LPC represents La-based rare earth metal）were investigated.It was found that the age hardening was enhanced,the grains became finer and the tensile strength was improved with the increase of Y content in Mg-Y-1.5LPC-0.4Zr alloy.The results show that the formed precipitates responsible for age hardening change from fine hexagonal-shaped equilibrium Mg12RE phase to metastableβ′phase with orthorhombic-bc crystal structure when Y is added into Mg-1.5LPC-0.4Zr alloy,and the volume fraction of precipitate phases also increases.The cubic-shapedβ-Mg24Y5 precipitate phases were also observed at grain boundaries in Mg-6Y-1.5LPC-0.4Zr alloy. The distribution of prismatic shapedβ′phases and cubic shapedβ-Mg24Y5 precipitate phases in Mg matrix may account for the remarkable enhancement of tensile strength of Mg-Y-LPC-Zr alloy.The Mg-6Y-1.5LPC-0.4Zr alloy exhibits maximum tensile strength at peak-aged hardness,and the values are 250 MPa at room temperature and 210 MPa at 250°C.
