Thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformation in rare earth–magnesium alloys: A critical review

Abstract Magnesium and its alloys are significant superior metallic materials for structural components in automobile and aerospace industries due to their excellent physicomechanical properties. The Mg–rare earth (RE) systems have attracted great interests because RE additions can improve both the deformability and the strength of Mg alloys through solid solution strengthening and precipitation hardening mechanisms. This paper focuses on the interface stability, together with thermodynamics and kinetics of nucleation and growth of the key phases and matrix phases in Mg–RE alloys. In this paper, the theory and recent advances on Mg–RE alloys, especially for the interface stability, thermodynamics and kinetics of nucleation and growth of the key phases and matrix phases, together with their relationships with micro-structures, and macroscopic properties, are reviewed. By combining the thermodynamics/kinetics integrated simulations with various advanced experimental techniques, “reverse” design of Mg–RE alloys starting from the target service performance is put forward as a kind of scientific paradigm with rational design.