To improve the comprehensive mechanical properties of Mg-10Zn-5Al-0.1Sb magnesium alloy, different amount of Ce-rich rare earth （RE） was added to the alloy, and the effect of RE addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-10Zn-5Al-0.1Sb alloy was investigated by means of Brinell hardness measurement, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy dispersive spectroscope （EDS） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The results show that an appropriate amount of Ce-rich rare earth addition can make the AI4Ce phase particles and CeSb phase disperse more evenly in the alloy. These phases refine the alloy＇s matrix and make the secondary phases [τ-Mg32（AI,Zn）49 phase and φ-Al2MgsZn2 phase] finer and more dispersive, therefore significantly improve the mechanical properties of the Mg-10Zn-5AI-0,1Sb alloy. When the RE addition is 1.0 wt.%, the tensile strengths of the alloy both at room temperature and 150℃ reach the maximum values while the impact toughness is slightly lower than that of the matrix alloy. The hardness increases with the increase of RE addition.
You ZhiyongZhang ZhaoguangZhang JinshanWei Yinghui
Mg-Zn-Y alloys with long-period stacking ordered structures were prepared by an ingot casting method. The corrosion performance of Mg-Zn-Y alloys was studied by combining gas-collecting test, immersion test and electrochemical measurements in order to determine the corrosion rate and mechanism of the alloys. The results showed that the volume fraction of Mg（12）YZn phase increased and the shape of the Mg（12）YZn phase changed from discontinuous to continuous net-like with increasing Zn and Y content. The corrosion rate of the alloys greatly depended on the distribution and volume fraction of the Mg（12）YZn phase. Corrosion products appeared at the junction of Mg phase and Mg（12）YZn phase, indicating that the Mg（12）YZn phase accelerated galvanic corrosion of Mg matrix. Mg（97）Zn1Y2 alloy shows the lowest corrosion rate due to the continuous distribution of Mg（12）YZn phase.
Jinshan Zhang Jidong Xu Weili Cheng Changjiu Chen Jingjing Kang
Mg97−xZn1Y2Alx alloys with long-period stacking ordered(LPSO)structures were prepared by conventional casting method.The optical microscopy(OM),X-ray diffraction(XRD)and the scanning electron microscope(SEM)equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS)were used to analyze the microstructure of the alloys with different compositions.Immersion test and electrochemical measurement were used to evaluate the corrosion behavior of the alloys at room temperature,and the corrosive medium is 3.5%NaCl aqueous solution.The results showed that,with the increasing aluminum(Al)addition,exceptα-Mg and LPSO phases,new phases also emerged on the grain boundaries.At the same time,the zigzag part of LPSO phases disappeared,and the boundaries between LPSO phases andα-Mg became smooth.Furthermore,the addition of Al to Mg-Zn-Y alloys could hinder the activity of cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction and improve the uniformity and compactness of the protective surface film,thus,enhanced the corrosion resistance of Mg-Zn-Y alloys.
Dan WangJinshan ZhangJidong XuZilong ZhaoWeili ChengChunxiang Xu
The effects of the solution and aging treatment on microstructures and mechanical properties of the Mg-10Zn-5A1-0.1Sb-XCu cast magnesium alloys were investigated by brinell hardness measurement, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy spectrum analyzing apparatus and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The experimental results show that the strip-like t-Mg32 （A1, Zn）49 phase is shown at the grain boundaries and Mg2Cu phase become smaller, even granular after solution treatment at 350 ~C for 24 h. By ageing treatment at 180 ~C, the ternary strengthening phase （r phase） precipitates gradually at or around grain boundary. With increasing aging time, the micro-hardness improves obviously and up to the maximum （105.9 HV） at aging time of 36 h. In addition, the tensile-strengths at room temperature and at an elevated temperature respectively reach 228 MPa and 176 MPa, which is increased by 20% and 10%, respectively.
Mg70.8Zn28Nd1.2（mole fraction） alloy containing icosahedral quasicrystal phase （I-phase） was prepared under conventional metal casting conditions. The microstructure, phase constitution and phase structure of the alloy were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, energy dispersive spectrometer （EDS） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. The resuits showed that the spherical phase in Mg70.8Zn28Nd1.2 alloy was a simple icosahedral quasicrystal with stoichiometric composition of Mg40Zn55Nd5 and quasi-lattice of 0.525 nm. In this research, the as-cast microstructure of Mg70.8Zn28Nd1.2 alloy mainly consisted of Mg40Zn55Nd5 icosahedral quasicrystal phase and Mg7Zn3 columnar crystal matrix. In the growing process of Mg40Zn55Nd5 icosahedral quasicrystal phase, the growth morphology mainly depended on interface energy, adsorption effect of Nd and cooling rate.
Effects of spherical quasi-crystal contained in Mg-Zn-Y-Mn master alloy on the microstructure and as-cast mechanical properties of ZA155 high zinc magnesium alloy have been investigated by means of optical microscopy,XRD,SEM,EDS,tensile test,impact test and hardness test.Experimental results show that the addition of spherical quasi-crystal contained in the Mg-Zn-Y-Mn master alloy into the ZA155 high zinc magnesium alloy resulted in grain refinement of the matrix,changing the morphologies of φ-Al2Mg5Zn2 phase and τ-Mg32(Al,Zn)49 phase from continuous net-like structures to discontinuous strip-like structure and blocky one,respectively.In the present research,the best comprehensive mechanical properties of reinforced ZA155 high zinc magnesium alloy has been obtained when 5.0wt% spherical quasi-crystal was introduced from the Mg-Zn-Y-Mn master alloy into the target alloy system.In such case,the room-temperature tensile strength reached 207 MPa,about 23% higher than that of the base alloy;the impact toughness peaked at 5.5 J/cm2,about 40% higher than that of the base alloy;and the elevated-temperature tensile strength reached 203 MPa,indicating improved heat resistance.
In view of high strength and poor impact toughness of the high-zinc magnesium alloys,the method of micro-alloying was adopted to improve the impact-toughness of Mg-10Zn-5Al high zinc magnesium alloys by adjusting the addition of Sb.The results show that:the dystectic Mg3Sb2 particles formed by Sb and Mg are distributed in the front of dendrite,restrain the growth of the secondary phase and then change the morphology of the secondary phases,which refines the matrix in some extent and improves the impact-toughness of the alloy significantly.But with further increase of Sb addition,Mg3Sb2 particles congregate and form needle-like Mg3Sb2 phase,which dissevers the matrix and leads to the reduction of the strength and impact-toughness of the alloys.Hence,the mechanical prosperities of ZA105 high zinc magnesium alloy are significantly improved with appropriate Sb addition,which provides a new way to extend the application fields of high zinc magnesium alloy.
To improve the strength, hardness and heat resistance of Mg-Zn based alloys, the effects of Cu addition on the as-cast microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-10Zn-5Al-0.1Sb high zinc magnesium alloy were investigated by means of Brinell hardness measurement, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）, XRD and tensile tests at room and elevated temperatures. The results show that the microstructure of as-cast Mg-10Zn-5AI-0.1Sb alloy is composed of α-Mg, τ-Mg32（Al, Zn）49, Ф-Al2MgsZn2 and Mg3Sb2 phases. The morphologies of these phases in the Cu-containing alloys change from semi-continuous long strip to black herringbone as well as particle-like shapes with increasing Cu content. When the addition of Cu is over 1.0wt.%, the formation of a new thermally-stable Mg2Cu phase can be observed. The Brinell hardness, room temperature and elevated temperature strengths firstly increase and then decrease as the Cu content increases. Among the Cucontaining alloys, the alloy with the addition of 2.0wt.% Cu exhibits the optimum mechanical properties. Its hardness and strengths at room and elevated temperatures are 79.35 HB, 190 MPa and 160 MPa, which are increased by 9.65%, 21.1% and 14.3%, respectively compared with those of the Cu-free one. After T6 heat treatment, the strengths at room and elevated temperatures are improved by 20% and 10%, respectively compared with those of the ascast alloy. This research results provide a new way for strengthening of magnesium alloys at room and elevated temperatures, and a method of producing thermally-stable Mg-10Zn-5Al based high zinc magnesium alloys.
You ZhiyongZhang YuhuaCheng WeiliZhang JinshanWei Yinghui
To improve the strength, toughness and heat-resistance of magnesium alloy, the microstrucmre and mechanical properties of ZA54 alloy reinforced by icosahedral quasicrystal phase （/-phase） particles were studied. Except α-Mg, φ-phase and τ-phase, MgZnYMn I-phase particles can be obtained in ZA54-based composites by the addition of icosahedral quasicrystal-contained Mg-Zn-Y-Mn master alloy. The introduction of MgZnYMn I-phase into ZA54 alloy has great contribution to the refinement of matrix microstructures and the improvement of mechanical properties. When the addition of Mg-based spherical quasicrystal master alloy is up to 3.5% （mass fraction）, the macro-hardness of ZA54-based composites is increased to HB 68. The impact toughness of composites reaches the peak value of 18.3 J/cm^2, which is about 29% higher than that of ZA54 mother alloy. The highest tensile properties at ambient and elevated temperatures with master alloy addition of 2.5% （473 K） are also obtained in ZA54-based composites with 3.5% （mass fraction） Mg-Zn-Y-Mn master alloy addition. The ultimate tensile strength of composites at ambient and elevated temperatures are 192.5 MPa and 174 MPa, which are 23.4% and 33.8% higher than that of ZA54 mother alloy, respectively. The improved mechanical properties are mainly attributed to the pinning effect of I-phase on grain boundaries.
