Effect of Ca on Microstructure and Properties of Mg-Al-Si Alloys

Abstract

Effect of Ca addition on the morphology modification in Mg-7Al-0.8Zn-0.2Mn-1Si (AS71) alloys has been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and various testing machines. The results show that when adding 0.1 wt% Ca, a small fraction of Mg2Si change from Chinese script type to polygonal type; with the Ca addition up to 0.3 wt%, edges and angles of polygonal type Mg2Si phase are changed; further increase in Ca addition, the morphology of Mg2Si is changed to strip-like or spot-like one. Meanwhile, the addition of Ca results in the morphology of β- Mg17Al12 phase changing from discontinuous net-like to dispersive island-like. Ca exists as solid-soluting atomic in the matrix with small Ca addition while in the form of CaSi2 with large Ca addition. Optimal mechanical properties can be achieved when Ca addition is 0.3 wt%.