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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg-7Al-2Sn Alloy Processed by Super Vacuum Die-Casting

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Abstract

The microstructural evolution of Mg-7Al-2Sn (AT72) alloy processed by super vacuum die-casting and heat treated at various conditions was studied. The results showed that the dendritic microstructure in the as-cast AT72 alloy consisted of α-Mg, Mg2Sn, and Mg17Al12 phases. After solution treatment at temperatures ranging from 663 K to 703 K (390 °C to 430 °C), the Mg17Al12 phase dissolved into the Mg matrix entirely, while the Mg2Sn phase partially dissolved into matrix. An average grain size of about 40 μm in the alloy could be achieved after solution treatment at 683 K (410 °C) for 16 hours. A large amount of lath-shaped precipitates of Mg2Sn and Mg17Al12 was observed in the aged AT72 alloy. The results of tensile property evaluation at room temperature showed that the ductility of the solution-treated alloy was dramatically improved, in comparison with the as-cast alloy. In the peak aged condition, the tensile strength of the alloy was increased, which was attributed to the deposition of fine Mg17Al12 and Mg2Sn precipitates during the aging treatment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial supports of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51171113) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (No. 2011BAE22B02 and No. 2011DFA50907). This investigation is part of a collaborative research project supported by General Motors Global Research and Development (GM R&D), Warren, MI, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Shanghai, China. The authors would also like to thank Professor Liming Peng and Dr. Penghuai Fu and Dr. Anil Sachdev for the helpful discussions. Professor Shoumei Xiong coming from Tsinghua University, China is thanked for the support on the experimental equipments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Research Center of Light Alloy Net Forming, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P.R. China

    Xiaoying Shi (Ph.D. Candidate), Dejiang Li (Assistant Researcher), Li Li (Engineer), Xiaoqin Zeng (Professor) & Wenjiang Ding (Professor)

  2. General Motors Research & Development Center, Warren, MI, 48093, USA

    Alan A. Luo (GM Technical Fellow)

  3. General Motors China Science Lab, Shanghai, 201206, P.R. China

    Bin Hu (Researcher)

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  1. Xiaoying Shi
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  2. Dejiang Li
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  3. Alan A. Luo
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  5. Li Li
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Correspondence to Xiaoqin Zeng.

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Manuscript submitted November 18, 2012.

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Shi, X., Li, D., Luo, A.A. et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg-7Al-2Sn Alloy Processed by Super Vacuum Die-Casting. Metall Mater Trans A 44, 4788–4799 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-013-1799-3

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