Simultaneously improving thermal conductivity,mechanical properties and metal fluidity through Cu alloying in Mg-Zn-based alloys

Mg-Zn-based alloys have been widely used in computer,communication,and consumer(3C)products due to excellent thermal conductivity.However,it is still a challenge to balance their mechanical performance and thermal conductivity.Here,we investigate microstructure,mechanical performance,thermal conductivity and metal fluidity of Mg-5Zn(wt.%)alloy after Cu alloying by experimental and simulation methods.First,Mg-5Zn alloy consist ofα-Mg matrix and interdendritic MgZn phases.As the Cu content increases,however,MgZn phases disappear but intragranular Mg_(2)Cu and interdendritic MgZnCu phases appear in Mg-5Zn-Cu alloys.Besides,the grain size ofα-Mg phase is refined and the volume fraction of MgZnCu phase increases as the Cu content increases.Second,Cu addition is found to improve thermal conductivity of Mg-5Zn alloy remarkably.Especially,Mg-5Zn-4Cu alloy exhibits the best thermal conductivity of 124 W/(m·K),which is mainly due to the significant reduction in both solid solubility of Zn in theα-Mg matrix and lattice distortion ofα-Mg matrix.Moreover,a stable crystal structure of MgZnCu phase also contributes to an increased thermal conductivity based on first principles and molecular dynamics simulations.Third,Cu addition simultaneously enhances strength and ductility of Mg-5Zn alloy.Tensile yield strength and elongation of Mg-5Zn-6Cu alloy reach 117 MPa and 18.0%,respectively,which is a combined result of refinement,solution,second phase,and dislocation strengthening.Finally,combined with a phase field simulation,we found that Cu addition enhances metal fluidity of Mg-5Zn alloy.On the one hand,Cu alloying not only delays dendrite growth but also prolongs solidification time.On the other hand,MgZnCu phase stabilizes the dendrite growth of theα-Mg phases by reducing energy consumption during solidification of liquid metal.This work demonstrates that Cu alloying is an ideal strategy for synergistically improving the thermal conductivity,mechanical performance and metal fluidity of Mg-based alloys.

Research progress in friction stir processing of magnesium alloys and their metal matrix surface composites: Evolution in the 21^(st )century

Rising concerns about climate change drive the demand for lightweight components.Magnesium(Mg)alloys are highly valued for their low weight,making them increasingly important in various industries.Researchers focusing on enhancing the characteristics of Mg alloys and developing their Metal Matrix Composites(MMCs)have gained significant attention worldwide over the past decade,driven by the global shift towards lightweight materials.Friction Stir Processing(FSP)has emerged as a promising technique to enhance the properties of Mg alloys and produce Mg-MMCs.Initially,FSP adapted to refine grain size from the micro to the nano level and accelerated the development of MMCs due to its solid-state nature and the synergistic effects of microstructure refinement and reinforcement,improving strength,hardness,ductility,wear resistance,corrosion resistance,and fatigue strength.However,producing defect-free and sound FSPed Mg and Mg-MMCs requires addressing several variables and their interdependencies,which opens up a broad range of practical applications.Despite existing reviews on individual FSP of Mg,its alloys,and MMCs,an attempt has been made to analyze the latest research on these three aspects collectively to enhance the understanding,application,and effectiveness of FSP for Mg and its derivatives.This review article discusses the literature,classifies the importance of Mg alloys,provides a historical background,and explores developments and potential applications of FSPed Mg alloys.It focuses on novel fabrication methods,reinforcement strategies,machine and tool design parameters,material characterization,and integration with other methods for enhanced properties.The influence of process parameters and the emergence of defects are examined,along with specific applications in mono and hybrid composites and their microstructure evolution.The study identifies promising reinforcement materials and highlights research gaps in FSP for Mg alloys and MMCs production.It concludes with significant recommendations for further exploration,reflecting ongoing advancements in this field.

Application and Development Trends of Spectral Analysis in Draft of Non-Ferrous Metal Standards in China

Spectral analysis was a method of identifying substances, determining their chemical composition and calculating their content based on their spectral characteristics. This paper mainly discussed the application of various spectroscopic techniques, mainly including atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (AFS) direct reading spectroscopy (OES) glow discharge emission spectroscopy (GD-OSE) laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), in the formulation of non-ferrous metal standards in China. The AAS method was the most widely used single-element microanalysis method among the non-ferrous metal standards. The ICP-AES method was good at significant advantages in the simultaneous detection of multiple elements. The XRF method was increasingly used in the determination of primary and secondary trace elements due to its simple sample preparation and high efficiency. The AFS was mostly detected by single-element trace analysis. OES GD-OES and LIBS were playing an increasingly important role in the new demand area for non-ferrous metals. This paper discussed matrix elimination, sample digestion, sample preparation, instrument categories and other aspects of some standards, and summarized the advantages of spectral analysis and traditional chemical analysis methods. The new methods of future spectroscopic technology had been illustrated in the process of developing non-ferrous metal standards.

Cross-Lingual Non-Ferrous Metals Related News Recognition Method Based on CNN with A Limited Bi-Lingual Dictionary

To acquire non-ferrous metals related news from different countries’internet,we proposed a cross-lingual non-ferrous metals related news recognition method based on CNN with a limited bilingual dictionary.Firstly,considering the lack of related language resources of non-ferrous metals,we use a limited bilingual dictionary and CCA to learn cross-lingual word vector and to represent news in different languages uniformly.Then,to improve the effect of recognition,we use a variant of the CNN to learn recognition features and construct the recognition model.The experimental results show that our proposed method acquires better results.

A Brief Introduction to the Rare Earths Research Institute,General Research Institute for Non-Ferrous Metals

The Rare Earths Research Institute(the former Rare Earths Research Laboratory)under the GRINM,the first institute to conduct R&D for rare earths(RE)industry in China,was founded in 1958.The Institutewas mainly engaged in the research work of comprehensive utilization of the mine at Baiyun-ebo,the largest

A Brief Introduction to the Rare Earths Research Institute,General Research Institute for Non-Ferrous Metals

The Rare Earths Research Institute(the former Rare Earths Research Laboratory)under the GRINM,the first institute to conduct R&D for rare earths(RE)industry in China,was founded in 1958.The Institutewas mainly engaged in the research work of comprehensive utilization of the mine at Baiyun-ebo,the largestRE mine in the world,and the ion adsorption type RE mineral in southern China.The ore decomposition,

Series Statistics Data of Non-ferrous Metals of China──Ⅰ Surveying

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China's Non-Ferrous Metals Industry

China’s non-ferrous metals industry has constantly maintained a steady, rapid and healthy development since the reform and opening to the outside world. By the end of 1994, the annual output often kinds of common non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminium, lead, and zinc had reached 3.701 million tons, a 12.2 percent increase over the previous year; the qualification rate of principal products and the output value rate of good quality products all achieved an increase over the previous year. China has

Non-Ferrous Metals Export Trade

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the China non-ferrous metals export trade has steadily increased, foreign economic and technical cooperation has further expanded and foreign capital utilization and overseas development have achieved new breakthroughs.

National Plan for Non-ferrous Metals Production Fulfilled ahead of Time

Vice president of China National Nonferrous Metals Industries Corporation Mr. WoTingshu said:"The output of 10 kinds of nonferrous metals amounted to 2.45 Mt." This factmean1s that the national plan for nonferrous metals production fulfiled earlier. The 10 kinds ofnonferrous metals are aluminium, magnesium, lead, zinc, copper, tin, nickel, antimony mercuryand titanium.

CHINA'S NON-FERROUS METALS INDUSTRY——Its Development Policies and Goals During the Ninth Five-year Plan Period

The China Non-ferrous MetalsIndustry Corporation has putforward ten development policiesfor the Ninth Five-year Plan period,according to the central government’sinstruction to change the way of economicgrowth,and raise the integral quality andbenefit of the national economy:

REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS for Non-ferrous Metals

Since the the launch of theeconomic reform and openingdrive,especially the foundingof the China Non-ferrous MetalsIndustry Corporation,China’s non-ferrous metals industry hassustained rapid and healthy growth.

Effects of low melting point metals(Ga,In,Sn) on hydrolysis properties of aluminum alloys

Low melting point metals（Ga, In, Sn） as alloy elements were used to prepare Al-In-Sn and Al-Ga-In-Sn alloys through mechanical ball milling method. The effects of mass ratio of In to Sn and Ga content on the hydrolysis properties of aluminum alloys were investigated. X-ray diffraction（XRD） and scanning electron microscopy（SEM） with energy disperse spectroscopy（EDS） were used to analyze the compositions and morphologies of the obtained Al alloys. The results show that the phase compositions of Al-In-Sn ternary alloys are Al and two intermetallic compounds, In3 Sn and In Sn4. All Al-In-Sn ternary alloys exhibit poor hydrolysis activity at room temperature. Al-In-Sn alloy with the mass ratio of In to Sn equaling 1：4 has the highest hydrogen yield. After Ga is introduced to the ternary alloys, the hydrolysis activity of aluminum alloys at room temperature is greatly improved. It is speculated that the addition of Ga element promotes the formation of defects inside the Al alloys and Ga-In3Sn-In Sn4 eutectic alloys on the alloys surface. Al atoms can be dissolved in this eutectic phase and become the active spots during the hydrolysis process. The small size and uniform distribution of this eutectic phase may be responsible for the enhancement of hydrolysis activity.

An intelligent system for calculating the scale of rational,enlarged production of an underground non-ferrous metal mine

The enlarged production scale of underground non-ferrous metal mines is affected by many uncertain factors difficult to describe mathematically with any level of accuracy.The problem can be solved by a synthesis of artificial intelligence.Based on the analysis of the major factors affecting the scale of enlarged production,we first interpreted in detail the design principles and structure of the intelligent system.Secondly,we introduced an ANN subsystem.In order to ensure technological and scale efficien- cies of the training samples for ANN,we filtrated the samples with a DEA method.Finally,we trained the intelligent system,which was proved to be very efficient.

Understanding the corrosion of Mg alloys in in vitro urinary tract conditions: A step forward towards a biodegradable metallic ureteral stent

Ureteral stents play a fundamental role in modern time urology. However, following the deployment, stent-related symptoms are frequent and affect patient health and quality of life. Using biodegradable metals as ureteral stent materials have emerged as a promising strategy, mainly due to the improved radial force and slower degradation rate expected. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize different biodegradable metals in urinary tract environment to understand their propensity for future utilization as base materials for ureteral stents. The corrosion of 5 Mg alloys - AZ31, Mg-1Zn, Mg-1Y, pure Mg, and Mg-4Ag - under simulated urinary tract conditions was accessed. The corrosion layer of the different alloys presented common elements, such as Mg(OH)_(2), MgO, and phosphate-containing products, but slight variations in their chemical compositions were detected. The corrosion rate of the different metals varied, which was expected given the differences in the corrosion layers. On top of this, the findings of this study highlighted the significant differences in the samples' corrosion and corrosion layers when in stagnant and flowing conditions. With the results of this study, we concluded that Mg-1Zn and Mg-4Ag presented a higher propensity for localized corrosion, probably due to a less protective corrosion layer;Mg-4Ag corroded faster than all the other four alloys,and Mg-1Y stood out due to its distinct corrosion pattern, that showed to be more homogeneous than all the other four samples, making this one more attractive for the future studies on biodegradable metals.

Microstructure and thermal properties of dissimilar M300–CuCr1Zr alloys by multi-material laser-based powder bed fusion

Multi-material laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) allows manufacturing of parts with 3-dimensional gradient and additional functionality in a single step. This research focuses on the combination of thermally-conductive CuCr1Zr with hard M300 tool steel.Two interface configurations of M300 on CuCr1Zr and CuCr1Zr on M300 were investigated. Ultra-fine grains form at the interface due to the low mutual solubility of Cu and steel. The material mixing zone size is dependent on the configurations and tunable in the range of0.1–0.3 mm by introducing a separate set of parameters for the interface layers. Microcracks and pores mainly occur in the transition zone.Regardless of these defects, the thermal diffusivity of bimetallic parts with 50vol% of CuCr1Zr significantly increases by 70%–150%compared to pure M300. The thermal diffusivity of CuCr1Zr and the hardness of M300 steel can be enhanced simultaneously by applying the aging heat treatment.

New insights on the high-corrosion resistance of UHP Mg-Ge alloys tested in a simulated physiological environment

UHP Mg-Ge alloys was recently found to provide excellent corrosion resistance.This paper provides new insights on the mechanism of improved corrosion resistance of UHP Mg-Ge alloys in Hanks’solution.The studied UHP Mg-0.5Ge and UHP Mg-1Ge alloys showed superior corrosion resistance compared to UHP Mg and WE43,with the Mg-1Ge exhibiting the best corrosion performance.The exceptional corrosion resistance of the UHP alloy is attributed to(i)Mg_(2)Ge’s ability to suppress cathodic kinetics,(ii)Ge’s capability to accelerate the formation of a highly passive layer,and the(iii)low amounts of corrosion-accelerating impurities.

Optimizing Non-Ferrous Metal Value from MSWI Bottom Ashes

The bottom ashes resulted annually from the incineration of municipal solid waste in Europe contain about 400,000 tonnes of metallic aluminium and 200,000 tonnes of heavy non-ferrous metals, such as copper and zinc. Efficient recovery of this non-ferrous metal resource requires state-of-the-art separation technologies and a continuous feedback of laboratory analyses of the metal products and the depleted bottom ash to the operators of the bottom ash treatment plants. A methodology is presented for the optimization of the production of non-ferrous metal value from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator bottom ash. Results for an incineration plant in the Netherlands show that efficient recycling can have a significant impact on value recovery as well as on non-ferrous metal recycling rates, producing up to 8% more revenue and 25% more metals from the ash.

Preparation and Microstructural Analysis of Smelting Waste Non-ferrous Metal Slag Geopolymer

The geopolymer samples were prepared with smelting waste slag of non-ferrous metal as the raw material and water glass as the activator. The effect of modulus of water glass and water binder ratio on the compressive strength was studied. The results show that the strength of the geopolymer activated by water glass with modulus of 1.1 and water binder ratio of 0.28 can maintain an increasing trend in the 90 curing days. Through the analyses with XRD, SEM（EDS）, and FTIR, the main reaction products are found to be geopolymer gels, which bond the crystalline minerals to provide strength. The molecular chains of amorphous phase in slag become shorter after depolymerization-polycondensation.