Thermal properties of Mg–11Y–5Gd–2Zn–0.5Zr (wt.%) alloy

The specific heat capacity and linear thermal expansion coefficient of Mg–11Y–5Gd–2Zn–0.5Zr (wt.%) alloy after heat treatment were investigated in the range of 100–400 °C and 25–400 °C, respectively. Thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the alloy were also measured at 25 °C, 200 °C and 300 °C. The results clearly show that the specific heat capacity and linear thermal expansion coefficient of the alloy increase with temperature, except for a peak value between 225 °C and 318 °C, which is caused by phase transformation. The values of the thermal conductivity and the thermal diffusivity of Mg–11Y–5Gd–2Zn–0.5Zr alloy at room temperature are 23.0 W m−1 K−1 and 14.3 × 10−6 m2 s−1, respectively. The transitional element Y has an effective influence on the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity.