Role of SiC in grain refinement of aluminum-free Mg-Zn alloys

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Authors

The addition of SiC particles effectively refined the grains of a range of aluminum-free Mg-Zn alloys. Simultaneously, the corresponding mechanism of grain refinement has also been discussed. In the present work the effect of SiC on the microstructure of as-cast Mg-Zn alloy was investigated using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the primary alloying element Zn segregates at the grain boundaries and the phase Mg7Zn3 locates inside Mg matrix of Mg-Zn grains. The efficiency of SiC as a grain refiner can be seen with 45% average grain size reduction of Mg-3Zn alloy at 0.3 wt% SiC addition, indicating an existence of close relationship between the contents of SiC and Zn to affect the grain size. The interaction between SiC and the impurities such as Mn and Fe in Mg-Zn alloys is suggested to explain the grain refinement.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMagnesium Technology 2016 - Held During TMS 2016 : 145th Annual Meeting and Exhibition
EditorsAlok Singh, Kiran Solanki, Michele Viola Manuel, Neale R. Neelameggham
Number of pages5
PublisherThe Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
Publication date2016
Pages177-181
ISBN (electronic)9781119225805
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes
Event145th Annual Meeting and Exhibition of Magnesium Technology - TMS 2016 - Nashville, United States
Duration: 14.02.201618.02.2016
Conference number: 145

    Research areas

  • Grain refinement, Magnesium alloys, SiC inoculation, Solidification
  • Engineering