Microstructures and mechanical properties of as-extruded and heat treated Mg-6Zn-1Mn-4Sn-1.5Nd alloy

The microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg-6Zn-1Mn-4Sn-1.5Nd alloy subjected to extrusion and T5 treatment were investigated using optical microscopy（OM）, X-ray diffractometer（XRD）, scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, electron back scattered diffraction（EBSD）, transmission electron microscopy（TEM）, hardness tests and uniaxial tensile tests. The results showed that the as-cast alloy consisted of α（Mg）, Mn, Mg7Zn3, Mg2 Sn and Mg Sn Nd phases. Dynamic recrystallization has completed during the extrusion process and the average grain size was 7.2 μm. After T5 treatment, the strength increased obviously, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of as-extruded alloy were increased by 94 and 34 MPa, respectively. Microstructure characterization revealed that the improvement of strength was determined by the high number density of β′1 rods.

Effect of addition of minor amounts of Sb and Gd on hot tearing susceptibility of Mg-5Al-3Ca alloy

The effects of addition of minor amount of(0.5 wt.%) antimony(Sb) or gadolinium(Gd) and combined addition of Sb and Gd(0.5 wt.%,respectively) on the hot tearing susceptibility(HTS) of Mg-5Al-3Ca alloy were investigated experimentally using a “T-shaped” hot tearing measuring system. Various solidification parameters of the alloys were measured and calculated through thermal analysis experiments. The microstructure, grain size, and morphology of the crack zone were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction, and the crystal phases of the alloys were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results showed that the addition of 0.5 wt.% Gd resulted in the increase in the vulnerable temperature range(Tv) and reduced the eutectic structure content that could participate in feeding, thereby improving the HTS of the alloy. However, addition of 0.5 wt.% Sb or combined addition of Gd and Sb(0.5 wt.%, respectively) to the Mg-5Al-3Ca alloy shortened the Tvand improved the skeleton strength of the alloy, thereby reducing HTS. Moreover, significantly refined structure of Mg-5Al-3Ca-0.5Gd-0.5Sb alloy improved the feeding ability of the eutectic structure, thus the alloy exhibited the lowest HTS.

Effect of ultrasonic melt treatment on degassing of Mg-6Zn-1Ca alloy

The effect of ultrasonic power and treatment time on degassing of Mg-6Zn-1Ca alloy was studied in this paper. The degassing effect was characterized by measuring densities of ingots. The results show that proper ultrasonic treatment can remove hydrogen from the melt of the Mg-6Zn-1Ca alloy. The ultrasonic degassing effect is closely related to the ultrasonic power density and treatment time. The degassing efficiency increases with an increase in ultrasonic power density when the melt is treated at 690 °C for 120 s, reaching its highest value at 1.2 W·cm-3. When the power density is 1.2 W·cm-3, with an increase in ultrasonic treatment time, the degassing efficiency increases at first, reaches its peak value at 120 s, then decreases as the ultrasonic treatment is further prolonged. In this experiment, the optimum degassing effect with an efficiency of 67.5 % is obtained by ultrasonic treatment with the power density of 1.2 W·cm-3 for 120 s. The maximum density of ingot can be increased from 1.8069 g·cm-3 to 1.8146 g·cm-3(increased by 0.43%).

Effects of calcium addition on as-cast microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-5Zn-5Sn alloy

The effects of Ca addition on the as-cast microstructure and mechanical properties of the Mg-5Zn-5Sn (mass fraction,%) alloy were investigated.The results indicate that an addition of 0.5%-1.5% (mass fraction) Ca to the Mg-5Zn-5Sn alloy not only refines the as-cast microstructure of the alloy but also causes the formation of the primary and/or eutectic CaMgSn phases with high thermal stability;an increase in Ca amount from 0.5% to 1.5% (mass fraction) increases the amount and size of the CaMgSn phase.In addition,Ca addition to the Mg-5Zn-5Sn alloy improves not only the tensile properties at room temperature and 150 ℃ but also the creep properties.Among the Ca-containing Mg-5Zn-5Sn alloys,the one added 0.5% (mass fraction) Ca obtains the optimum ultimate tensile strength and elongation at room temperature and 150 ℃,however,the alloy added 1.5% (mass fraction) Ca exhibits the optimum yield strength and creep properties.

Microstructures and properties in surface layers of Mg-6Zn-1Ca magnesium alloy laser-clad with Al-Si powders

Laser surface cladding with Al-Si powders was applied to a Mg-6Zn-1Ca magnesium alloy to improve its surface properties.The microstructure,phase components and chemical compositions of the laser-clad layer were analyzed by using X-ray diffractometry(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and energy dispersive spectrometry(EDS).The results show that the clad layer mainly consists ofα-Mg,Mg2Si dendrites,Mg17Al12and Al3Mg2phases.Owing to the formation of Mg2Si,Mg17Al12and Al3Mg2intermetallic compounds in the melted region and grain refinement,the microhardness of the clad layer(HV0.025310)is about5times higher than that of the substrate(HV0.02554).Besides,corrosion tests in the NaCl(3.5%,mass fraction)water solution show that the corrosion potential is increased from-1574.6mV for the untreated sample to-128.7mV for the laser-clad sample,while the corrosion current density is reduced from170.1to6.7μA/cm2.These results reveal that improved corrosion resistance and increased hardness of the Mg-6Zn-1Ca alloy can be both achieved after laser cladding with Al-Si powders.

Microstructure of Mg-8Zn-4Al-1Ca aged alloy

The microstructure of Mg-8Zn-4Al-1Ca aged alloy was investigated by TEM and HRTEM. The results show that the hardening produced in the Mg-8Zn-4Al-1Ca alloy is considerably higher than that in the Mg-8Zn-4A1 alloy. A dense dispersion of disc-like Ca2Mg6Zn3 precipitates are formed in Mg-8Zn-4Al-1Ca alloy aged at 160 ℃ for 16 h. In addition, the lattice distortions, honeycomb-looking Moir＆#233; fringes, edge dislocations and dislocation loop also exist in the microstructure. The precipitates of alloy aged at 160 ℃ for 48 h are coarse disc-like and fine dispersed grainy. When the alloy is subjected to aging at 160 ℃ for 227 h, the microstructure consists of numerous MgZn2 precipitates and Ca2Mg6Zn3 precipitates. All the analyses show that Ca is a particularly effective trace addition in improving the age-hardening and postponing the formation of MgZn2 precipitates in Mg-8Zn-4Al alloy aged at 160 ℃.

Microstructural control and hardening response of Mg–6Zn–0.5Er–0.5Ca alloy

The effects of heat treatment on microstructures and hardening response of Mg-6Zn4）.5Er4）.5Ca （wt%） alloy were investigated by optical microscope （OM）, scanning elec- tron microscope （SEM）, and transmission electron microscope （TEM） in this paper. The results show that the Mg（Zn4）.5Er- 0.5Ca alloy contains Mg3Zn6Erx quasicrystalline phase （I- phase） and Ca2Mg6Zn3 phase under as-cast condition. Most of the Ca2Mg6Zn3 phases and I-phases dissolve into matrix during heat treatment at 475 ℃ for 5 h. After the as-solution alloy was aged at 175 ℃ for 36 h, a large amount of MgZn2 precipitate with several nanometers precipitate. It is suggested that the trace addition of Ca results in refining the size of the precipitate, and the presence of the nanoscale MgZn2 phase is the main factor to improve the peak-aged hardness greatly to 87 HV, which in- creases about 40 % compared with that of as-cast alloy.