Effect of Sm content on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-6Al-2Sr alloys

Mg-6Al-2Sr alloys with different Sm contents(0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, mass fraction) were prepared by melting and casting method. The effects of Sm on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-6Al-2Sr alloys were studied by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and tensile test. The results show that the microstructure of as-cast Mg-6Al-2Sr alloy is composed of α-Mg, Mg_(17)Al_(12), Mg_(13)Al_(3)Sr and lamellar acicular Al_(4)Sr phase. After adding Sm element, granular block Al2Sm phase appears in the grain. With the increase of Sm content, the discontinuous long strip reticular Mg_(17)Al_(12)phase and the lamellar acicular Al4Sr phase gradually decrease, and the Al_(2)Sm phase increases and distributes more dispersedly, so the alloy microstructure is continuously refined. The average grain size of the alloys decreases at first and then increases with the increase of Sm content. When the Sm content is 1.5 wt%, the average grain size reaches the minimum value of 94.6 μm. With the increase of Sm content, the mechanical properties of the alloy at room temperature first increase and then decrease. When the Sm content is 1.5 wt%, the alloy has the best comprehensive mechanical properties at room temperature.

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 ℃.

初始组织对热挤压Mg-6Al-2Ca-2Sm合金显微组织和力学性能的影响

对铸态Mg-6Al-2Ca-2Sm合金分别进行经固溶和固溶+时效处理获得不同初始组织试样,然后对不同初始组织的试样进行热挤压,研究了不同初始组织对热挤压Mg-6Al-2Ca-2Sm合金显微组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明:铸态合金经热挤压后发生明显的部分再结晶,显微组织得到显著细化;经固溶或固溶+时效处理能够改善合金组织,热挤压后合金显微组织分布更加均匀。初始组织分布能够改善热挤压Mg-6Al-2Ca-2Sm合金室温和高温力学性能,固溶+时效后进行热挤压的Mg-6Al-2Ca-2Sm合金具有更高的抗拉强度和延伸率。与铸态进行挤压的Mg-6Al-2Ca-2Sm合金相比,固溶+时效后进行热挤压Mg-6Al-2Ca-2Sm合金的室温抗拉强度和延伸率分别提高6.1%和14.5%,高温抗拉强度和延伸率分别提高11%和8.3%。