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The effect of addition of cerium on the grain refinement of Mg–3Al–1Zn cast alloy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2013

Bin Jiang ,
Ying Zeng ,
Mingxing Zhang ,
Jichao Liao  and
Fusheng Pan
Bin Jiang*
Affiliation:
National engineering research center for magnesium alloys, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China; and College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
Ying Zeng
Affiliation:
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
Mingxing Zhang
Affiliation:
Division of Materials, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
Jichao Liao
Affiliation:
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
Fusheng Pan
Affiliation:
National engineering research center for magnesium alloys, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China; and College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The microstructures of the cast Mg–3Al–1Zn–xCe (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 wt%) alloys produced by twin-roll casting were observed to reveal the effect of cerium (Ce) on the Mg–3Al–1Zn (AZ31) alloy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of Al4Ce particles at the centers of grains was observed, and the crystallographic calculations between Al4Ce and α-Mg were examined on the basis of the edge-to-edge matching model. The results indicated that the addition of Ce effectively reduces the grain size of the cast AZ31 alloy produced by twin-roll casting. The finest grains with an average grain size of 55 μm are achieved at 0.4 wt% addition of Ce. TEM observation and good crystallographic matching between Al4Ce and α-Mg suggest that promotion of heterogeneous nucleation of α-Mg on Al4Ce particles formed in the melt is responsible for the grain refinement when adding Ce to the cast AZ31 alloy.

Keywords

crystallographic structuregrain sizetransmission electron microscopy (TEM)
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 28 , Issue 19 , 14 October 2013 , pp. 2694 - 2700
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013 

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