Effect of Y Addition on the Semi-Solid Microstructure Evolution and the Coarsening Kinetics of SIMA AZ80 Magnesium Alloy
Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
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Metals 2017, 7(10), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/met7100416
Received: 18 July 2017
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Revised: 21 August 2017
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Accepted: 3 October 2017
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Published: 6 October 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Developments in Magnesium Technology—Alloying, Processing, Microstructure, Deformation Mechanism and Mechanical Properties)
Semi-solid feedstock of AZ80 magnesium alloy modified by trace rare-earth Y element (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 wt. %) was fabricated by strain-induced melting activation (SIMA) in the form of extrusion and partial remelting. The effect of Y addition on the microstructure evolution of the extruded and isothermally heat treated alloy was observed by using an optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and quantitative analysis. The results show that the Y addition can refine the microstructure and make the β-Mg17Al12 phases agglomerate. During the subsequent isothermal treatment at 570 °C, the average solid grain size, shape factor and liquid fractions increased with the prolonged soaking time. The smaller spheroidal solid grains and larger shape factor were obtained in the semi-solid microstructure due to Y addition. The coalescence and Ostwald ripening mechanism operated the coarsening process of solid grains simultaneously. The coarsening rate constants of AZ80M1 (0.2 wt. % Y addition) of 164.22 μm3 s−1 was approximately four times less than the un-modified AZ80 alloy of 689.44 μm3 s−1. In contrast, the desirable semi-solid structure featured, with fine and well globular solid grains, an appropriate liquid fraction, and shape factor was achieved in AZ80M1 alloy treated at 570 °C for 20–30 min.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Tang, Q.; Sun, H.; Zhou, M.; Quan, G. Effect of Y Addition on the Semi-Solid Microstructure Evolution and the Coarsening Kinetics of SIMA AZ80 Magnesium Alloy. Metals 2017, 7, 416. https://doi.org/10.3390/met7100416
AMA Style
Tang Q, Sun H, Zhou M, Quan G. Effect of Y Addition on the Semi-Solid Microstructure Evolution and the Coarsening Kinetics of SIMA AZ80 Magnesium Alloy. Metals. 2017; 7(10):416. https://doi.org/10.3390/met7100416
Chicago/Turabian StyleTang, Qi, Hao Sun, Mingyang Zhou, and Gaofeng Quan. 2017. "Effect of Y Addition on the Semi-Solid Microstructure Evolution and the Coarsening Kinetics of SIMA AZ80 Magnesium Alloy" Metals 7, no. 10: 416. https://doi.org/10.3390/met7100416
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