• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2015

In this study, Mg-Zn alloys are investigated in terms of their thermal properties after an addition of Cu. Al element is added to improve the mechanical properties and castability in general case. However, it was excluded here because it significantly decreases the thermal conductivity. On the other hand, Zn was added as a major element, which had less influence on reducing the conductivity and can complement the mechanical properties as well. Cu was also added, and it improved the heat transfer characteristics as the amount was increased. The composition ranges of Zn and Cu are 6 wt.% and 0~1.5 wt.%, respectively. Mg-6Zn-xCu alloy was prepared by a gravity casting method using a steel mold and then the thermal conductivity and the microstructure of the as-cast material were investigated. By measuring the density_(${\rho}$), specific heat_(Cp) and thermal diffusivity_(${\alpha}$), the thermal conductivity_(${\lambda}$) was calculated by the equation ${\lambda}={\rho}{\cdot}Cp{\cdot}{\alpha}$. As the amount of Cu increased in the Mg-6Zn-xCu alloy, the heat transfer characteristics were improved, resulting in a synergistic effect which is slow when the added Cu exceeds 1 wt.%. In order to investigate the relative thermal conductivity/emission of the Mg-6Zn-xCu alloy, AZ91 and AZ31 were experimentally evaluated and compared using a separate test equipment. As a result, the Mg-6Zn-1.5Cu alloy when compared to AZ91 showed improvements in the thermal conductivity ranging from 30 to 60% with a nearly 20% improvement in the thermal emission.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.293-301
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• 2011

Representative magnesium alloys applied to the die-casting are AZ91, AM60, etc., and the application of these alloys is restricted to components operating at moderate temperatures, due to grain boundary siding of ${\beta}$-phase($Mg_{17}Al_{12}$) at temperatures above $120^{\circ}C$. Heat-resistant magnesium alloys such as AE42, AE44 have been developed, but that have been too burdensome to produce because of the expensive rare earth materials. Research work for the development of low-priced heat-resistant magnesium alloy is actively in progress and positive results are being reported. This study aims to investigate the effect of Ca additions on mechanical properties of Mg-4Al-2Sn heat resistant magnesium alloys. Mg-4Al-2Sn alloys with Ca (0wt.%, 0.3wt.%, 0.7wt.%, 1wt.%) have been produced through the die-casting process for the development of low-priced heat-resistant magnesium alloy, and high temperature tensile tests are performed using the specimens. The results showed that mechanical properties of Mg-4Al-2Sn-xCa increased with the addition of Ca up to 0.7wt.% Ca and further addition of Ca deteriorated the mechanical properties of the alloys. A significant amount of porosity was observed at the sample with 1wt%. Ca and the longer freezing range of the alloy was believed to cause the formation of porosity.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.185-193
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• 2015

Anodization of die-casted AZ91D magnesium alloy was carried out using silicate based electrolyte solution instead of fluoride based solution to improve biocompatibility of oxidized layers. The anodic layer obtained from silicate based solution has smaller size of pore and smoother surface, resulting in lower corrosion rate in simulate body solution (SBF). Effect of enhanced structural and chemical properties in oxidized layer on biocompatibility was carefully considered.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2007

In order to develop the semi-solid forming technology for magnesium alloy the rheological and thixotropic behavior of Mg alloy slurry with varying shear rates and cooling rates was investigated and simulated with considering the viscosity based on microstructures and processing variables. The viscosity of slurry of Mg alloy (AZ91D) in semi-solid region was exponentially increased with a solid fraction, and was decreased with increasing a shear rate. In order to analyze precisely the rheological behavior, the ANYCAST program modified with the Carreau model and the different heat transfer coefficient between the cast and mold was used to simulate the flow behavior of Mg semi-solid slurry during the injection into a casting mold in a high pressure diecasting machine. The simulated rheological behavior of Mg alloy slurry was matched well with the experimental results.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.200-213
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• 2014

Pure magnesium and magnesium alloys have been applied to various kinds of industrial fields, especially automotive and electronic parts. These parts are manufactured mainly through a diecasting process. These days, magnesium ingots are used as raw material, and recycled ingots are often used for commercial purposes. But the quality of virgin magnesium and recycled ingots is not secure. Therefore, massive casting defects can occur, and some things manufactured can be damaged by these defects. This study evaluated the inclusions of virgin magnesium and recycled ingot. It also included composition analysis by spectrometer, measuring inclusion contents by SEM & EDS, and performing a brightness test on fractured surfaces. The brightness test is generally very easy and obtains results quickly, so its results have been compared with the results obtained from various test methods. From the test results, we obtained a satisfactory result in evaluating inclusion and oxide. The brightness values are lower as the inclusion contents are higher. When the brightness value is over 47 in AM50A and 44 in AZ91D, the mechanical properties are expected to be good.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.11a
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• pp.16-16
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• 2012

Mg and its alloys have been of great interest because of their low density of 1.7, 30% lighter than Al, but their wide applications have been limited because of their poor resistances against corrosion and/or abrasion. Corrosion resistance of Mg alloys can be improved by formation of anodic films using anodic oxidation method in aqueous electrolytes. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is one of anodic oxidation methods by which hard anodic films can be formed as a result of micro-arc generation under high electric field. PEO method utilize not only substrate elements but also chemical components in electrolytes to form anodic films on Mg alloys. PEO films formed on AM50 magnesium alloy in an acidic fluozirconate electrolyte were observed to consist of mainly $ZrO_2$ and $MgF_2$. Liu et al reported that PEO coating on AM30 Mg alloy consists of $MgF_2$-rich outer porous layer and an MgO-rich dense inner layer. PEO films prepared on ACM522 Mg die-casting alloy in an aqueous phosphate solution were also reported to be composed of monoclinic $Mg_3(PO_4)_2$. $CeO_2$-incorporated PEO coatings were also reported to be formed on AZ31 Mg alloys in $CeO_2$ particle-containing $Na_2SiO_3$-based electrolytes. Magnesium tin hydroxide ($MgSn(OH)_6$) was also produced on AZ91D alloy by PEO process in stannate-containing electrolyte. Effects of $OH^-$, $F^-$, $PO{_4}^{3-}$ and $SiO{_3}^{2-}$ ions and alloying elements of Al and Sn on the formation of PEO films on pure Mg and Mg alloys and their protective properties against corrosion have been investigated in this work. $PO{_4}^{3-}$, $F^-$ and $SiO{_3}^{2-}$ ions were observed to contribute to the formation of PEO films but $OH^-$ ions were found to break down the surface films under high electric field. The effect of pulse current on the formation of PEO films will be also reported.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.295-295
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• 1999

In the present study, the corrosion behavior of AZ91D as-cast alloy was investigated form the viewpoint of the distribution aspect of precipitate ($Mg_{17}Al_{12}$) and the variation of Al concentration in the Mg-rich matrix. The dendrite arm spacing (DAS) of an as-cast specimen was measured as a function of degree which describes the distribution aspect of the precipitate, and the salt spray test was conducted for various grain-sired specimens fur 20 days. The dendrite arm spacing increased as the grain size increased to about 150㎛, but a constant value is indicated when the grain size exceeds that range. Although the relationship between the corrosion rate and grain size is of a nonlinear type, the linear trend between the corrosion rate and the dendrite arm spacing is maintained for the overall range of dendrite arm spacing. Since the precipitate in the as-cast alloy is discontinuously distributed, this linear relationship means that the variation of Al-solute concentration in the Mg-rich matrix has a more potent effect than the protective action of the precipitate on the corrosion behavior of an as-cast alloy.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.252-257
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• 2011

Magnesium thin films for marine engine parts such as the engine block and the cylinder head cover etc. were prepared on the magnesium alloy(AZ91D) substrate by Thermo-electron activated Ion-plating method. The influence of gas pressure and substrate bias voltages on the crystal orientation and morphology of the films was investigated with X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope(FE-SEM), respectively. Moreover, the effect of crystal orientation and morphology of the magnesium films on the its hardness property was investigated as well. From the results, the hardness of the films was increased in Ar gas pressure due to the grain boundary strengthening and occlusion effects.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.91-96
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• 2011

In this paper, friction welded joints were constructed to investigate the mechanical properties of welded 15-mm diameter solid bars of Mg alloy (AZ31B). The main friction welding parameters were selected to endure reliable quality welds on the basis of visual examination, tensile tests, impact energy test, Vickers hardness surveys of the bonds in the area and heat affected zone (HAZ), and macrostructure investigations. The study reached the following conclusions. The tensile strength of the friction welded materials (271 MPa) was increased to about 100% of the AZ31B base metal (274 MPa) under the condition of a heating time of 1 s. The metal loss increased lineally with an increase in the heating time. The following optimal friction welding conditions were determined: rotating speed (n) = 2000 rpm, heating pressure (HP) = 35 MPa, upsetting pressure (UP) = 70 MPa, heating time (HT) = 1 s, and upsetting time (UT) = 5 s, for a metal loss (Mo) of 10.2 mm. The hardness distribution of the base metal (BM) showed HV55. All of the BM parts showed levels of hardness that were approximately similar to friction welded materials. The weld interface of the friction welded parts was strongly mixed, which showed a well-combined structure of macro-particles without particle growth or any defects. In addition, an acoustic emission (AE) technique was applied to derive the optimum condition for friction welding the Mg alloy nondestructively. The AE count and energy parameters were useful for evaluating the relationship between the tensile strength and AE parameters based on the friction welding conditions.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.359-368
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• 1993

Mg-9wt.%Al and Mg-9wt.%-1.6wt%Zn/SiCp(particle size $40{\mu}m$) metal-matrix-composite specimens were manufactured by rheo-compocasting method, known for its effect of improving the wettability. The ceramic reinforcement particles(SiCp) were dispersed in the semi-solid magnesium alloy matrix slurry being vigorously stirred in a high frequency induction furnace under inert atmosphere. A microstructural study of the dispersed particles in the specimens, prepared under different conditions as regards the time(10min, 20min, 30min) and temperature of the stirring, was made with the aid of optical microscope and SEM. The effect of superheating was also observed. It is revealed that 30 minutes' stirring time of the semi-solid at 40% solid fraction temperature(Mg-9wt.%Al : $590^{\circ}C$, AZ91 : $576^{\circ}C$), as determined by the lever rule, gives a satisfactorily uniform distribution of the particles. The superheating is observed to enhance further the uniformity.