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The Effect of Calcium and Zinc on the Structure and Phase Composition of Casting Aluminum–Magnesium Alloys

  • STRUCTURE, PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS, AND DIFFUSION
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Abstract

In this paper, we study a group of alloys based on the Al–Mg–Ca–(Zn) system with various magnesium and calcium contents using computational (in Thermo-Calc software environment) and experimental (optical and scanning microscopy and X-ray microanalysis) methods. The calculated liquidus surfaces show that all alloys fall into the hypoeutectic region. According to the data of nonequilibrium crystallization, as the calcium concentration increases the liquidus temperature of the alloys decreases, while the temperature of the nonequilibrium solidus does not change. There is good agreement between the calculated and practical results. For example, there are no primary phases of crystallization origin in the structure, and the basis is an aluminum solid solution (Al) surrounded by veinlets of nonequilibrium eutectic containing magnesium, calcium, and zinc in its composition. At a joint increase in the concentration of magnesium and calcium, eutectic colonies coarsen and thicken. It was found that quenching allowed almost complete dissolution of the Al3Mg2 phase and the equilibrium double eutectic (Al) + Al4Ca acquired a more fragmented form. Upon joint doping with calcium and zinc, the eutectic structure becomes more fragmented, especially in the Al6Mg2Ca2Zn alloy. Subsequent heat treatment for solid solution leads to even greater fragmentation of the eutectic inclusions, as well as the dissolution of the Al3Mg2 phase. Due to the high solubility of zinc in the Al4Ca phase, inclusions of the Al2Mg3Zn3 phase, which is present in the calculated isotremic cross sections, are not detected. In the Al–Mg–Ca–Zn system, under conditions close to equilibrium, at magnesium and calcium contents of at least 6 and 2%, respectively, a stable Al2(Mg,Ca) phase can exist in alloys along with stable Al4Ca with zinc dissolved in the latter.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant no. 21-79-00134.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Catalysis and Processing of Hydrocarbons Laboratory, MISiS National Research Technological University, 119049, Moscow, Russia

    V. V. Doroshenko

  2. Department of Metal Forming, MISiS National Research Technological University, 119049, Moscow, Russia

    M. A. Barykin, N. O. Korotkova & M. A. Vasina

Authors
  1. V. V. Doroshenko
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  2. M. A. Barykin
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  3. N. O. Korotkova
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  4. M. A. Vasina
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Correspondence to V. V. Doroshenko.

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Translated by A. Ivanov

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Doroshenko, V.V., Barykin, M.A., Korotkova, N.O. et al. The Effect of Calcium and Zinc on the Structure and Phase Composition of Casting Aluminum–Magnesium Alloys. Phys. Metals Metallogr. 123, 816–824 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031918X22080038

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031918X22080038

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