• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.168-174
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• 2019

The microstructural features and relative room temperature mechanical properties were investigated in various compositions of Mg-xAl-yZn alloys by thxiomolding process. The microstructure was composed of ${\alpha}$-Mg particles and mixture of ${\alpha}$-Mg and ${\beta}-Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ eutectic phase. The amount of ${\beta}-Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ eutectic phase in mixture was increased with increasing Al and Zn contents without grain refinement. After adding Ti content, however, the morphology of ${\beta}-Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ eutectic phase transformed from net-like to discontinuous shape and the average grain size reduced. To determine the relationship between microstructural features and their mechanical properties, a tensile test was performed at room temperature. As a result, it was found that the mechanical properties were improved in all of Ti contained alloys due to increased elongation and the mechanisms are discussed in terms of microstructural evolution.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.53-57
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• 2004

Friction stir weldability of AZ31B-H24, AZ61A-F and AZ91C-F Mg alloys were studied using microstructural observation and mechanical tests. The microstructure of stir zone(SZ) was coarse in AZ31B-H24 alloy whereas it was very fine both in AZ61A-F and AZ91C-F alloys. The hardness of SZ was remarkably increased by very fine recrystallized grains both in AZ61A-F and AZ91C-F alloys. On the other hand, the hardness of SZ was decreased in AZ31B-H24 due to the coarse microstructure. In SZ, AZ91C-F alloy showed very high hardness values because of dispersion hardening of $Mg_{17}$Al$_{12}$($\beta$ phase) and Al solid solution hardening. Because of more $Mg_{ 17}Al_{12}($\beta$ phase)$ intermetallic compounds, Mg alloy with high Al content showed poor mechanical properties.s.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1999

This study has investigated the effect of aging treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-6Al-xZn(x = 1.5, 2.5) alloys fabricated by the squeeze casting process. The microstructures of as-squeeze cast were composed of pro-eutectic ${\alpha}$, super saturated ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ compound. Aged at both $200^{\circ}C$ and $240^{\circ}C$, Mg-6Al-xZn alloys showed the peak hardness due to the formation of ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ precipitates. The discontinuous precipitates of the lamella type are predominant at $200^{\circ}C$ aging treatment, while the finely dispersed continuous precipitates were dominant at $240^{\circ}C$ aging treatment. Mg-6Al-xZn alloys fabricated by the squeeze casting process had the better combination of tensile strength and elongation compared to the conventionally cast alloys. As zinc contents increased, the tensile strength was increased by the solid solution strengthening effect of zinc.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.144-148
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• 2011

Change in damping capacity with strain amplitude was studied in Mg-Al-Si alloy in as-cast, solution-treated and aged states, respectively. The as-cast microstructure of the alloy is characterized by eutectic ${\beta}$($Mg_{17}Al_{12}$) phase and Chinese script type $Mg_2Si$ particles. The solution treatment dissolved the ${\beta}$ phase into the matrix, while the aging treatment resulted in the distribution of continuous and discontinuous type ${\beta}$ precipitates. The solution-treated microstructure showed better damping capacity than as-cast and aged microstructures both in strain-dependent and strain-independent damping regions. The decrease in second-phase particles which weakens the strong pinning points on dislocations and distribution of solute atoms in the matrix, would be responsible for the enhanced damping capacity after solution treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.185-190
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• 2014

The influences of small amount of Sn addition on microstructure and creep resistance of AZ91-0.4%Ca alloy have been investigated. The microstructure of the AZ91-0.4%Ca alloy was characterized by ${\alpha}$-(Mg) dendrite cells surrounded by eutectic ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ and $Al_2Ca$ phases. The 0.5%Sn addition resulted in the formation of rod-shaped CaMgSn particles with the extinction of $Al_2Ca$. The Sn-containing alloy exhibited better creep resistance below $175^{\circ}C$, but the tendency was reversed above $200^{\circ}C$. The reason was discussed in relation to the change in thermal stability of ${\beta}$ phase in response to the Sn addition.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.306-310
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• 2007

Changes in microstructure and damping capacity with aging time for solutionized Mg-Al alloy have been investigated. Discontinuous ${\beta}\;(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ precipitates form along the primary grain boundaries, the amount of which increases as the aging time increases. The hardness of the matrix with respect to aging time shows a typical "S" shape, indicating a generation of fine continuous precipitates in the matrix during the aging. The peak level of damping capacity is obtained after 1 hour of aging, over which the damping capacity becomes deteriorated continuously. The formation of optimum density of continuous ${\beta}$ precipitates with fine morphology which would act as pinning points for dislocation lines, might be responsible for the improvement of damping capacity.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.300-308
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• 2004

The formation mechanism of anodic oxide films on Mg alloys when anodized in NaOH solution. was investigated by focusing on the effects of anodizing potential. Al content. and anodizing time. Pure Mg and Mg-Al alloys were anodized for 10 min at various potentials in NaOH solutions. $Mg(OH)_2$ was generated by an active dissolution reaction at the surface. and the product was affected by temperature. The intensity ratio of $Mg(OH)_2$ in the XRD analysis decreased with increasing applied potential. while that of MgO increased. The anti-corrosion properties of anodized specimens at each constant potential were better than those of non-anodized specimens. The specimen anodized at an applied potential of 3 V had the best anti-corrosion property. And the intensity ratio of $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$/Mg increased with aluminum content in Mg-Al alloys. During anodizing. the active dissolution reaction occurred preferentially in ${\beta}\;phase(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ until about 4 mins. and then the current density increased radually until 7 mins. The dissolution reaction progressed in a phase(Mg) which not formed the intermetallic compound. which had a lower Al content. In the anodic polarization test of $0.017\;mol{\cdot}dm^-3$ NaCl and $0.1\;mol{\cdot}dm^-3\;Na_2SO_4$ at 298 K. the current density of Mg-15 mass% Al alloy anodized for 10 mins increased. since the anodic film that forms on the a phase is a non-compacted film. The anodic film on the phase for 30 mins was a compact film as compared with that for 10 mins.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.53-61
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• 2015

Effects of Zn addition on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Mg-8%Al-(0-1)%Zn casting alloys were investigated. With increasing Zn content, the amount of ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ phase increased, while ${\alpha}$-(Mg) dendritic cell size became reduced. The corrosion rate decreased continuously with the increase in the Zn content. The evaluation of the microstructural evolution indicates that the improved barrier effect of ${\beta}$ particles formed more continuously along the dendritic cell boundaries and the incorporation of more ZnO into the surface corrosion product, by which the absorption of $Cl^-$ ions is impeded, are responsible for the better corrosion resistance in relation to the Zn addition.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of misch metal addition on the microstructure and mechanical property of rapidly solidified AZ91 alloy by melt spinning process. As the contents of misch metal(rare earth element:Ce,La, Nd, Pr)was increased, the microstructure of RS ribbons and extrudates became finer than those of AZ91, and RE related phases($Al_{11}RE_3$, $Al_2RE$) were formed. At room temperature, the rapidly solidified AZ91+1 wt%Mm alloy showed the highest tensile strength, 430 MPa due to precipitation strengthening of${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ phase and Al11RE3 phase. At the elevated temperature, the mechanical property of AZ01+3 wt%Mm alloy was higher than those of other Mg alloys. The reasons were that $Al_{11}La_3$ phase was thermally stable and suppressed the grain growth. In contrast with $Al_{11}La_3$ phase, ${\beta}$ phase was thermally unstable and could not suppress the grain growth at the elevated temperature. Therefore, Al11RE3 phase contributed to improve the thermal stability of RS AZ91 Alloy.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.499-503
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• 2012

The present study is intended to comparatively investigate the changes in microstructure and tensile properties at room and elevated temperatures in commercial AM50(Mg-5%Al-0.3%Mn) and 0.3 wt%CaO added ECO-AM50 alloys produced by permanent mould casting. The typical microstructure of AM50 alloy was distinctively characterized using two intermetallic compounds, ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ and $Al_8Mn_5$, along with ${\alpha}$-(Mg) matrix in an as-cast state. The addition of a small amount of CaO played a role in reducing dendrite cell size and quantity of the ${\beta}$ phase in the AM50 alloy. It is interesting to note that the added CaO introduced a small amount of $Al_2Ca$ adjacent to the ${\beta}$ compounds, and that inhomogeneous enrichment of elemental Ca was observed within the ${\beta}$ phase. The ECO-AM50 alloy showed higher hardness and better YS and UTS at room temperature than did the AM50 alloy, which characteristics can be mainly ascribed to the finer-grained microstructure that originated from the CaO addition. At $175^{\circ}C$, higher levels of YS and UTS and higher elongation were obtained for the ECO-AM50 alloy, demonstrating that even 0.3 wt%CaO addition can be beneficial in promoting the heat resistance of the AM50 alloy. The combinational contributions of enhanced thermal stability of the Ca-containing ${\beta}$ phase and the introduction of a stable $Al_2Ca$ phase with high melting point are thought to be responsible for the improvement of the high temperature tensile properties in the ECO-AM50 alloy.