Solidification, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the as-cast ZRE1 magnesium alloy with different praseodymium contents

  • Z. M. Sheggaf
  • R. Ahmad
  • M. B. A. Asmael
  • A. M. M. Elaswad
Article
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Abstract

The influence of praseodymium (Pr) content on the solidification characteristics, microstructure, and mechanical properties of ZRE1 magnesium (Mg) cast alloy was investigated. The obtained solidification parameters showed that Pr strongly affected the solidification time, leading to refinement of the microstructure of the alloys. When the freezing time was reduced to approximately 52 s, the grain size decreased by 12%. Mg12Zn (Ce,Pr) was formed as a new phase upon the addition of Pr and was detected via X-ray diffraction analysis. The addition of Pr led to a substantial improvement in mechanical properties, which was attributed to the formation of intermetallic compounds; the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength increased by approximately 10% and 13%, respectively. Pr addition also refined the microstructure, and the hardness was recovered. The results herein demonstrate that the mechanical properties of Mg alloys are strongly influenced by their microstructure characteristics, including the grain size, volume fraction, and distribution of intermetallic phases.

Keywords

metal solidification microstructure mechanical properties magnesium alloys intermetallics 
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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia for supporting this research under Vot no. ERGS E023.

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Copyright information

© University of Science and Technology Beijing and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Z. M. Sheggaf
    • 1
  • R. Ahmad
    • 1
  • M. B. A. Asmael
    • 2
  • A. M. M. Elaswad
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing EngineeringUniversiti Tun Hussein Onn MalaysiaParit RajaMalaysia
  2. 2.Department of Mechanical EngineeringEastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus, Gazimağusa, TRNCMersin 10Turkey

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