The microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg-4.2Zn-1.5RE-0.7Zr alloy were investigated under different heat treatment conditions. The as-cast alloy consisted ofα-Mg phase, T-phase and Mg51Zn20 phase. After aging treatment （single-step （325 °C, 10 h） and two-step （325 °C, 4 h）＋（175 °C, 14 h））, neither T-phase nor Mg51Zn20 phase dissolved into the matrix and the coarsening ofα-Mg phase was not significant. When peak-aged at 325 °C for 10 h, dense short rod-likeβ′1 phase precipitated in the matrix. Further ageing at 325 °C led to coarsening ofβ′1 phase and a decrease in number density. Alloy aged at 325 °C for 10 h achieved the highest yield strength （YS） and ultimate tensile strength （UTS） of 153.9 MPa and 247.0 MPa, which were increased by 48 MPa and 23 MPa from as-cast condition, respectively. While the elongation slightly decreased to 15.6%. Comparatively, the YS and UTS of alloy two-step aged by （325 °C, 4 h）＋（175 °C, 14 h） showed little difference from those of single-step aged alloy, but with a lower elongation of 13.4%. In addition, the fracture surfaces of Mg-4.2Zn-1.5RE-0.7Zr alloy under different thermal conditions were mainly characterized by quasi-cleavage feature, but with differences in the details.
Influence of the pouring temperature ranging from 680 to 780 ℃ on the solidification behavior, the microstructure and mechanical properties of the sand-cast Mg-10Gd-3Y-0.4Zr alloy was investigated. It was found that the nucleation undercooling of the a-Mg phase increased from 2.3 to 6.3 ℃. The average a-Mg grain size increased from 44 to 71 μm, but then decreased to 46 μm. The morphology of the eutectic compound transformed from a continuous network into a discontinuous state and then subsequently into an island-like block. The volume fraction of β-Mg_24RE_5 phase increased and its morphology transformed from particle into rod-like. The increase in pouring temperature increased the solute concentration. YS increased from 138 to 151 MPa, and UTS increased from 186 to 197 MPa. The alloy poured at 750 ℃ had optimal combining strength and ductility. The fracture surface mode transformed from quasi-cleavage crack into transgranular fracture, all plus the dimple-like fracture, with the micro-porosity and the re-oxidation inclusion as major defects. The average a-Mg grain size played a main role in the YS of sand-cast Mg-10Gd-3Y-0.4Zr alloy, besides other factors, i.e. micro-porosity, morphology of eutectic compounds, re-oxidation inclusion and solute concentration.
The effect of the cooling rate ranging from 1.4 °C/s to 3.5 °C/s on the solidification behavior of the sand-cast Mg?10Gd?3Y?0.4Zr alloy was studied by computer aided cooling curve analysis (CA-CCA). With the increase in cooling rate, the nucleation temperature (Tα,N) increases from 634.8 °C to 636.3 °C, the minimum temperature (Tα,Min) decreases from 631.9 °C to 630.7 °C, the nucleation undercooling (ΔTN) increases from 2.9 °C to 5.6 °C, the beginning temperature of the eutectic reaction (Teut,N) increases, the time of the eutectic reaction shortens, solidus temperature decreases from 546.0 °C to 541.4 °C, and solidification temperature range (ΔTS) increases by 6.1 °C. The increased nucleation rate (N&) is supposed to be the main reason for the increased?TN. Increased value (Teut,N?Teut,G) and shortened time of the eutectic reaction cause the change in the volume fraction and morphology of the second phase.
The semi-solid slurry of AZ91 D magnesium alloy was prepared by gas bubbling process.The effect of processing parameters,including gas flow rate,cooling rate and stirring end temperature,on microstructure of AZ91 D semi-solid slurry was investigated.With increasing the gas flow rate from 0 to 5 L/min,the average size of primary α-Mg particles decreases from 119.1 to77.2μm and the average shape factor increases continuously from 0.1 to 0.596.The formation of non-dendritic primary α-Mg particles during gas bubbling is the result of combined effects of dendrite fragmentation and copious nucleation.With increasing the cooling rate from 3.6 to 14.6℃/min,the average particle size of primary α-Mg phase decreases from 105.0 to 68.1μm while the average shape factor peaks at 9.1℃/min.Both high and low cooling rates can induce dendritic growth of primary α-Mg particles.Changing the stirring end temperature from 590 to 595℃ has little effect on the average size and shape factor of primary α-Mg particles in AZ91 D semi-solid slurry.The insensitivity of semi-solid microstructures to the stirring end temperature is attributed to the sufficient quantity of primary particles formed in the melt.
