Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T15:18:35.677Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of zinc, lithium, and indium on the grain size of magnesium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

A. Becerra*
Affiliation:
Hatch Associates, Montreal H3A2B2, Quebec, Canada
M. Pekguleryuz*
Affiliation:
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
*
a) Formerly with McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
b) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The grain size of magnesium solid-solution alloys with lithium, indium, and/or zinc has been determined. Lithium, indium, and zinc additions decreased the grain size, D, of magnesium solid-solution alloys cast in a copper mold. The most effective grain refinement was obtained by zinc. In binary Mg–Zn alloys, grain size is related to the growth restriction factor, Q as D = 94 + 312/Q. In Mg–Li and Mg–In binary alloys, grain size versus growth relationships described as D = a + b/Q indicated that these alloys have lower numbers of nucleants but with higher potency than the Mg–Zn binary system. For Mg–Li and especially Mg–In, grain size could be related to growth restriction as D = 383Qn with higher R2. Ternary and quaternary alloys based on Mg–Zn with Li and/or In additions also follow the D = a + b/Q relationship with the parameters indicating a larger number of lower potency nucleants than the Mg–Zn binary alloys. Electron probe microanalysis showed that Mg–Zn alloys exhibit pronounced and persistent grain-boundary enrichment of Zn, pointing toward Scheil solidification.

Keywords

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Doege, E. and Droder, K.: Sheet metal forming of magnesium wrought alloys-Formability and process technology. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 115, 14 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Albright, D.L., Bergeron, F., Neelameggham, R., Luo, A., Kaplan, H., and Pekguleryuz, M.O.: Magnesium technology 2002. Part II. Wrought products, alloy processing, R and D strategies, corrosion, welding. JOM 54(8), 22 (2002).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Agnew, S.R.: Wrought magnesium: A 21st century outlook. J. Metals (JOM-US) 56 (5), 20 2004.Google Scholar
4.Bettles, C.J. and Gibson, M.A.: Current wrought magnesium alloys: Strengths and weaknesses. JOM 57(5), 46 (2005).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Uesugi, T., Kohyama, M., Kohzu, M., and Higasi, K.: Generalized stacking-fault energy and dislocation properties for various slip systems in magnesium: A first-principles study. Mater. Sci. Forum 419–422, 225 (2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Koike, J.: New deformation mechanisms in fine-grain Mg alloys. Mater. Sci. Forum 419–122. 189 (2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Ohyama, R., Koike, J., Kobayashi, T., Suzuki, M., and Maruyama, K.: Enhanced grain-boundary sliding at room temperature in AZ31 magnesium alloy. Mater. Sci. Forum 419–122. 237 (2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Emley, E.F.: Principles of Magnesium Technology (Pergamon Press, London, 1966).Google Scholar
9.Mukai, T., Yamanoi, M., Watanabe, H., Ishikawa, K., and Higashi, K.: Effect of grain refinement on tensile ductility in ZK60 magnesium alloy under dynamic loading. Mater. Trans. 42(7), 1177 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Mukai, T., Yamanoi, M., Watanabe, H., and Higashi, K.: Ductility enhancement in AZ31 magnesium alloy by controlling its grain structure. Scr. Mater. 45, 89 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Barnett, M.R., Keshavarz, Z., Beer, A.G., and Atwell, D.: Influence of grain size on the compressive deformation of wrought Mg–3Al–1Zn. Acta Mater. 52, 5093 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Wang, X.L., Yu, Y., and Wang, E.D.: The effects of grain size on ductility of AZ31 magnesium alloy. Mater. Sci. Forum 488–189, 535 (2005).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Easton, M.A. and StJohn, D.H.: Improved prediction of the grain size of aluminum alloys that includes the effect of cooling rate. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 486, 8 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Quested, T.E.: Solidification of inoculated aluminum alloys. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, 2004.Google Scholar
15.Quested, T.E.: Understanding mechanisms of grain refinement of aluminium alloys by inoculation. Mater. Sci. Technol. 20, 1357 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.StJohn, D.H., Cao, P., Qian, M., and Easton, M.A.: A new analytical approach to reveal the mechanisms of grain refinement. Adv. Eng. Mater. 9(9), 739 (2007).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Easton, M.A. and StJohn, D.H.: An analysis of the relationship between grain size, solute content, and the potency and number density of nucleant particles. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 36, 1911 (2005).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18.Easton, M.A. and StJohn, D.H.: A model of grain refinement incorporating alloy constitution and potency of heterogeneous nucleant particles. Acta Mater. 49, 1867 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19.Lee, Y.C., Dahle, A.K., and StJohn, D.H.: The role of solute in grain refinement of magnesium. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 31, 2895 (2000).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Kearns, A. and Cooper, P.S.: Effects of solutes on grain refinement of selected wrought aluminum alloys. Mater. Sci. Technol. 13(8), 650 (1997).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Massalski, T.B.: Binary Alloy Phase Diagrams, 2nd ed. (ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1990).Google Scholar
22.StJohn, D.H., Qian, M., Easton, M.A., Cao, P., and Hildebrand, Z.: Grain refinement of magnesium alloys. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 36, 1669 (2005).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.Johnsson, M.: Influence of zirconium on the grain refinement of aluminum. Z. Metallkd. 85, 781 (1994).Google Scholar
24.Smithells Metals Reference Book, 8th ed., edited by Gale, W.F. and Totemeier, T.C. (Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK and Burlington, MA, 2004).Google Scholar