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Effect of Cu Additions on Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Hot-Tearing Susceptibility of Mg-6Zn-0.6Zr Alloys

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Abstract

The microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg-6Zn-xCu-0.6Zr (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 wt.%) alloys are investigated. The effect of Cu additions on the hot-tearing susceptibility (HTS) of Mg-6Zn-0.6Zr is also studied using constrained rod casting apparatus equipped with a load cell and data acquisition system. The experimental results indicate that 0.5wt.% Cu addition into the Mg-6Zn-0.6Zr alloy shows the optimum comprehensive properties, i.e., a combination of high strength, high hardness, high hot-tearing resistance and excellent ductility. However, when Cu content reaches 2 and 3wt.%, the deterioration in mechanical properties observed is attributed to the increment in coarsened MgZnCu phase and the continuous networks of intergranular phases in these two alloys. The Cu-free base alloy had a high HTS, which is attributed to its large vulnerable temperature range and coarse grain structure, which easily caused tear propagation. In contrast, the Cu-contained alloys exhibited low HTS are due to their narrow vulnerable temperature ranges and its refined equiaxed grain structure, which effectively accommodated the stress developed during solidification. The hot-tearing fracture surfaces indicate that the hot-tearing initiated and propagated along the grain boundaries with liquid films. The results also suggest that the hot-tearing resistance can apparently be improved by increasing the initial mold temperature.

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Acknowledgment

Thanks should be given to National Natural Sciences Foundation of China and General project of scientific research of the Education Department of Liaoning Province for their financial supports through Project No. 51504153, No. 51571145 and Project No. L2015397, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, 110870, China

    Zhi Wang, Yizhou Li, Feng Wang, Zheng Liu & PingLi Mao

  2. MagIC-Magnesium Innovation Centre, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany

    Jiangfeng Song

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  1. Zhi Wang
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  2. Yizhou Li
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  3. Feng Wang
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Correspondence to Zhi Wang.

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Wang, Z., Li, Y., Wang, F. et al. Effect of Cu Additions on Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Hot-Tearing Susceptibility of Mg-6Zn-0.6Zr Alloys. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 25, 5530–5539 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-016-2397-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-016-2397-5

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