Abstract: The microstructure of magnesium alloys containing Ca and Si were investigated using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscopes.The as-cast Mg-Ca alloy containing only Ca is composed of Mg matrix and divorced eutectic (Mg+Mg2Ca) formed along the grain boundaries. With about 0.5%Si (mass fraction) added to the Mg-Ca alloy to produce Mg-Ca-Si alloys, no grain boundary divorced eutectic is formed any more, instead, dispersive dot-like, needle-like or discrete lump-like CaMgSi compounds are formed at the grain boundaries and within the grains. When the Si content is further increased to about 1.0%, Chinese-character-like (needle like) Mg2Si compounds are formed in addition to the CaMgSi ones. After solution-ageing treatment, the divorced eutectic (Mg+Mg2Ca) along the grain boundaries of Mg-Ca alloy containing only Ca disappears, where the grown-up granular Mg2Ca was found instead, whereas no evident change of microstructure could be found in Mg-Ca-Si alloys. The room temperature tensile properties and elevated temperature transient tensile properties of alloys were also investigated.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium alloys containing Ca and Si
Abstract:
The microstructure of magnesium alloys containing Ca and Si were investigated using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscopes.The as-cast Mg-Ca alloy containing only Ca is composed of Mg matrix and porced eutectic (Mg+Mg2Ca) formed along the grain boundaries. With about 0.5%Si (mass fraction) added to the Mg-Ca alloy to produce Mg-Ca-Si alloys, no grain boundary porced eutectic is formed any more, instead, dispersive dot-like, needle-like or discrete lump-like CaMgSi compounds are formed at the grain boundaries and within the grains. When the Si content is further increased to about 1.0%, Chinese-character-like (needle like) Mg2Si compounds are formed in addition to the CaMgSi ones. After solution-ageing treatment, the porced eutectic (Mg+Mg2Ca) along the grain boundaries of Mg-Ca alloy containing only Ca disappears, where the grown-up granular Mg2Ca was found instead, whereas no evident change of microstructure could be found in Mg-Ca-Si alloys. The room temperature tensile properties and elevated temperature transient tensile properties of alloys were also investigated.
Fig.2 TEM images and electron diffraction of grain boundary phases in alloy Ⅰ (a) —Dark-field image of Mg2Ca in eutectic (as cast) ; (b) —Diffraction pattern of Mg2Ca in eutectic
(c) —Dark-field image of Mg in eutectic (as cast) ; (d) —Diffraction pattern of Mg in eutectic
(e) —Dark-field image of Mg2Ca in grain boundary (aged) ; (f) —Diffraction pattern of Mg2Ca in grain boundary