Microstructure and properties of the Zn–1%Li–2%Mg alloy subjected to severe plastic deformation

In this paper, the authors consider the mechanisms of formation of high-strength states in the Zn–1%Li–2%Mg alloy as a result of its processing by the high pressure torsion (HPT) method. For the first time, the study showed that using HPT treatment, as a result of varying the degree of deformation at room temperature, it is possible to increase the ultimate strength of a zinc alloy from 155 to 383 MPa (with an increase in the yield stress from 149 to 306 MPa) without losing its ductility. To explain the reasons for the increase in the zinc alloy mechanical properties, its microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray phase analysis (XPA), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Using XPA, the authors established for the first time that Zn(eutectic)+β-LiZn4(eutectic)→~LiZn3+Zn(phase)+Zn(precipitation) and MgZn2→Mg2Zn11 phase transformations occur in the zinc alloy during HPT treatment. SEM analysis showed that at the initial stages of HPT treatment, cylindrical Zn particles with a diameter of 330 nm and a length of up to 950 nm precipitate in β-LiZn3 phase. At the same time, the SAXS method showed that needle-like LiZn4 particles with a diameter of 9 nm and a length of 28 nm precipitate in the Zn phase. The study established that, only spherical Zn and LiZn4 particles precipitate at high degrees of HPT treatment. Precision analysis of the zinc alloy microstructure showed that HPT treatment leads to grain refinement, an increase in the magnitude of crystal lattice microdistortion, a growth of the density of dislocations, which are predominantly of the edge type. As a result of the analysis of hardening mechanisms, the authors concluded that the increase in the zinc alloy strength characteristics mainly occurs due to grain-boundary, dislocation, and dispersion hardening.