Microstructure and strengthening mechanism of Mg-5.88Zn-0.53Cu-0.16Zr alloy solidified under high pressure

Mg-5.88 Zn-0.53 Cu-0.16 Zr(wt.%)alloy was solidified at 2-6 GPa using high-pressure solidification technology.The microstructure,strengthening mechanism and compressive properties at room temperature were studied using SEM and XRD.The results showed that the microstructure was refined and the secondary dendrite spacing changed from 35μm at atmospheric pressure to 10μm at 6 GPa gradually.Also,Mg(Zn,Cu)2 and Mg Zn Cu eutectic phases were distributed in the shape of network,while under high pressures the second phases(Mg(Zn,Cu)2 and Mg7 Zn3)were mainly granular or strip-like.The solid solubility of Zn and Cu in the matrix built up over increasing solidification pressure and reached 4.12%and 0.32%respectively at 6 GPa.The hardness value was HV 90 and the maximum compression resistance was 430 MPa.Therefore,the grain refinement strengthening,the second phase strengthening and the solid solution strengthening are the principal strengthening mechanisms.

Refinement and strengthening mechanism of Mg−Zn−Cu−Zr−Ca alloy solidified under extremely high pressure

Mg−Zn−Cu−Zr−Ca samples were solidified under high pressures of 2-6 GPa.Scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction were used to study the distribution of Ca in the microstructure and its effect on the solidification structure.The mechanical properties of the samples were investigated through compression tests.The results show that Ca is mostly dissolved in the matrix and the Mg_(2)Ca phase is formed under high pressure,but it is mainly segregated among dendrites under atmospheric pressure.The Mg_(2)Ca particles are effective heterogeneous nuclei ofα-Mg crystals,which significantly increases the number of crystal nuclei and refines the solidification structure of the alloy,with the grain size reduced to 22μm at 6 GPa.As no Ca segregating among the dendrites exists,more Zn is dissolved in the matrix.Consequently,the intergranular second phase changes from MgZn with a higher Zn/Mg ratio to Mg7Zn3 with a lower Zn/Mg ratio.The volume fraction of the intergranular second phase also increases to 22%.Owing to the combined strengthening of grain refinement,solid solution,and dispersion,the compression strength of the Mg-Zn-Cu-Zr-Ca alloy solidified under 6 GPa is up to 520 MPa.