This study compares the microstructural and mechanical properties of Mg-10Y alloy synthesized via two different processing routes: vacuum die (VD) casting and disintegrated melt deposition (DMD) process. The analysis through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 3D X-ray microscopy (XRM) revealed that the alloy processed through DMD exhibited a higher fraction of eutectic Mg 24 Y 5 phase as compared to the alloy processed through VD casting. Although the individual Mg 24 Y 5 phase in both the alloys exhibited a partially divorced eutectic morphology, the divorced degree (D d ) for DMD processed alloy was ~ 60% higher than the D d of alloy synthesized through VD casting due to the higher cooling rate in the former. Both hardness and yield strength (YS) of the DMD processed alloy was found to be higher than VD processed alloy, which has been predominantly attributed to the significantly smaller grain size in the former (~ reduction by 83.5%). In addition, ultimate compressive strength (UCS) and UCS/YS were also found to be higher for the DMD processed alloy. The addition of 10 wt. % Y was found to significantly improve the ignition temperature as compared to other as-cast Mg alloys and the strength was further improved by using DMD method, giving advantage over VD casting. • DMD processing refines grain size by ~83.5% compared to VD-cast Mg–10Y alloy • Higher eutectic Mg₂₄Y₅ fraction observed in DMD-processed Mg–10Y alloy • DMD alloy exhibits improved hardness, yield strength, and compressive strength • Addition of 10 wt.% Y significantly enhances ignition temperature of Mg alloy
Shukla et al. (Sun,) studied this question.