LAUSR

Abstract Selective variant growth of precipitates was found in an as-extruded Mg-13.7Gd-1.7Zn-0.5Mn (wt.%) alloy. In the coarse-deformed grains, β ' phases and hexagonal clusters mainly precipitate along the [10 1 - 0]Mg orientation. While in the fine dynamic recrystallized (DRXed) grains, the β ' phases and a few of the hexagonal clusters are relatively uniform distributed along the three  1 - 0>Mg directions. This phenomenon is attributed to the coupling of dislocation strain field and residual stress component in the as-extruded alloy. Moreover, dislocations in the deformed grains result in a significant increase in the number density of hexagonal clusters comparing to those in the DRXed grains. This selective variant growth of precipitates is expected to change the deformation behavior and modify the mechanical properties in Mg-RE (rare earth) alloys.