한국주조공학회

Interest in rapid solidification of magnesium alloys stems from the fact that conventional ingot metallurgy alloys exhibit poor strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance. Such properties can be improved by microstructural refinement via rapid solidification processing. In this study, Mg-Zn alloys have been produced as continuous strips by melt overflow technique. In order to evaluate the influence of additional elements on the grain refinement and mechanical properties, Th and Zr were added in rapidly solidified Mg-5wt%Zn alloy. Then the microstructual observations were undertaken with the objective of evaluating the grain refinement as function of the cooling rate and the additional elements. The tremendous increase in hardness of Mg-Zn base alloys was mainly due to the refinement of the grain structure by the effect of rapid solidification and alloying elements. The formation of intermetallic phases on the grain boundaries may have a positive effect on the corroion resistance. Therefore, despite competition from many other developments, the rapid solidification processing of magnesium alloys emerges as a valuable method to develop superior and commercially acceptable magnesium alloys.