B 4 C p /Mg-8Li-1Zn and B 4 C p /Mg-8Li-1Al-1Y composites were prepared with hot-extrusion solid-state composite processing. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the composites were studied. With the optimized parameters, the deformation effects and the migration of α phase are improved, and the amount and size of foil gaps are decreased. The bonding force between foils is improved, and the oxidation of foils is lowered. The results of tensile test show that the strengths of the B 4 C p /Mg-8Li-1Zn and B 4 C p /Mg-8Li-1Al-1Y composites are increased obviously after hot-extrusion solid-state composite processing （238 MPa and 257.23 MPa, respectively）. The specific strength of B 4 C p /Mg-8Li-1Al-1Y composite is the highest （169.23×10 3 cm）.
Tungsten inert gas weld was carried out on super-light magnesium-lithium alloy plates with a thickness of 2 mm, using argon gas as a protecting atmosphere. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints were investigated. The results indicate that the microstructure in the fusion zone is fine, and the microstructure in the heat-affected zone is coarser than the parent metal. The tensile strength of the welded joint is about 84% that of the parent metal. The fracture occurs in a mixed type of toughness and brittleness in the heat-affected zone. During the welding process, aluminum and cerium are enriched at grain boundaries in the fusion zone.
Mg-5Li-3Al-2Zn-xCe（x=0-2.5;mass fraction,%） alloys were prepared by casting,and heat treatments of homogenization at 300 °C and solid solution at 370 °C were carried out.The microstructure and tensile properties of as-cast alloys and their evolutions after solid solution were investigated.The results show that with the increase of Ce content,Al2Ce/Al3Ce precipitates are formed and the alloys mainly consist of α-Mg,Al2Ce,Al3Ce and AlLi phases,and the amount of AlLi and Al-Ce intermetallics decreases after solid solution.The content and morphology of the second phases have important effects on the mechanical properties of the alloys;the alloy with 1.0%Ce content exhibits excellent tensile strength.The tensile strength and elongation of Mg-5Li-3Al-2Zn-0.5Ce alloy is remarkably improved by the solution strengthening effect because of the addition of Ce.
