Abstract
A new semisolid metal processing technology, rheo-diecasting (RDC) has been developed for production of Mg-alloy components with high integrity. The RDC process innovatively combines the dispersive mixing power of the twin-screw mechanism for creation of high quality semisolid slurry and the high efficiency, low cost nature of the high pressure die casting (HPDC) process for component shaping. AZ91D Mg-alloy was used to optimise the RDC process and to establish its advantages over both the HPDC process and other existing semisolid processing techniques. In this paper we present the RDC process for processing Mg-alloys and the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties of RDC AZ91D alloy. The solidification behaviour of the Mg-alloys in the RDC process and the co-relationships between microstructure and mechanical properties of the RDC AZ91D alloy are discussed. It was found that the RDC process is capable of producing Mg-alloy samples with close-to-zero porosity and a fine, uniform microstructure throughout the entire sample irrespective of the section thickness. Compared with those obtained by other existing processing techniques, the RDC samples have substantially improved or equivalent mechanical properties, with the tensile elongation showing more than 100% improvement.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
H. FRIEDRICH and S. SCHUMANN, in Proceedings of the 2nd Israeli International Conference of Mg Science and Technology, (Dead Sea, Israel, 2000) p. 9.
A. BALASUNDARAM and A. M. OKHALE, in “Magnesium Technology 2001,” edited by J. Hryn (TMS, 2001) p. 155.
H. FRIEDRICH and S. SCHUMANN, in Proceedings of IMA 2001 Magnesium Conference (Brussels, Belgium, 2001) p. 8.
M. C. FLEMINGS, Metall. Trans. 22A (1991) 957.
D. H. KIRKWOOD, Inter. Mat. Rev. 39 (1994) 173.
K. P. YOUNG, US Patent, No. 4,687,042, 1987.
ALUMAX Inc., European Patent Specifications, EP 0 071 822 B2, 1982.
M. P. KENNEY, J. A. COURTOIS, R. D. EVANS, G. M. FARRIIOR, C. P. KYONKA, A. A. KOCH and K. P. YOUNG, in “Metals Handbook,” 9th edition (Metals Park, OH, ASM International) Vol. 15, pp. 327.
L. PASTERNAK, R. D. CARNAHA, R. DECKER and R. KILBERT, in Proc. the 2nd International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, edited by S. B. Brown and M. C. Flemings (MIT, Cambridge, 1992) p. 159.
Z. FAN, Inter. Mater. Rev. 47 (2002) 49.
H. KAUFMANN, H. WABUSSEG and P. J. UGGOWITZER, Aluminium 76 (2000) 69.
J. A. YURKO, R. A. MARTINEZ and M. C. FLEMINGS, in: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Semisolid Metal Processing, edited by Y. Tsutsui, M. Kiuchi and K. Ichikawa, Tsukuba, Japan (2002) p. 659.
M. FINDON, A. M. DE FIGUEREDO, D. APELIAN and M. MAKHLOUF, in Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Semisolid Metal Processing, edited by Y. Tsutsui, M. Kiuchi and K. Ichikawa, Tsukuba, Japan (2002) p. 557.
Y. WANG, G. LIU and Z. FAN, Acta Mater., 54 (2006) 689.
Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys, ASM Speciality Handbook (ASM International, The Materials Information Society, 1999).
W.P. SEQUEIRA, G. L. DUNLOP and M. T. MURRAY, in Proceedings of the 3rd International Mg Conference, edited by C. Baker, R.L. Edgar, H. Jones and J. F. King (London, (Institute of Materials, 1996) p. 63.
A. L. BOWLES, J. R. GRIFFITHS and C. J. DAVIDSON, in “Magnesium Technology 2001,” edited by J. Hryn (TMS, 2001) p. 161.
Z. FAN and S. JI, UK patent application No. 0019856.4, 11th August 2000.
F. CZERWINSKI, A. ZIELINSKA-LIPIEC, P. J. PINET and J. OVERBEEKE, Acta Mater. 49 (2001) 1225.
M. S. DARGUSCH and G. L. DUNLOP, in “Magnesium Alloys and their Applications,” edited by B. L. Mordike and K. U. Kainer (Wolfsburg, Germany, 1998) p. 277.
I. J. POLMEAR, in “Light Alloys, Metallurgy of the Light Metals,” 3rd ed. (Butterworth Heinemann, 1995).
G. G. WANG, B. FROESE and P. BAKKE, in “Magnesium Technology 2003,” edited by H. I. Kaplan (TMS, 2003) p. 65.
C. PITSARIS, T. ABBOTT, C. H. J. DAVIES and G. SAVAGE, in “Magnesium,” edited by K.U. Kainer, Proceedings of the 6th International Conference of Magnesium Alloys and Their Applications”, Weinheim (Wiley-VCH, Verlay GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2003) p. 694.
J. AGUILAR, T. GRIMMING and A. BüHRIG-POLACZEK, in “Magnesium, Proceedings of the 6th International Conference of Magnesium Alloys and Their Applications”, edited by K. U. Kainer, Weinheim (Wiley-VCH, Verlay GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2003) p. 767.
H. KAUFMANN and P. J. UGGOWITZER, in “Magnesium Alloys and Their Applications,” edited by K. U. Kainer (Wiley-VCH, Verlay GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2000) p. 533.
P. A. JOLY and R. MEHRABIAN, J. Mater. Sci. 11 (1976) 1393.
J. Y. CHEN and Z. FAN, Mater. Sci. Tech. 18 (2002), 237, 243, 250, 258.
P. D. LEE, Private Communication, Department of Materials, Imperial College, London, 2003.
A. DAS, S. JI and Z. FAN, Acta. Mater. 50 (2002) 4571.
S. JI and Z. FAN, Met. Mater. Trans. 33A (2002) 3511.
P. ANDERSSON, C. H. CASERES and J. JOIKE, Mater. Sci. Forum 419–422 (2003) 123.
A.M. GOKHALE and G. R. PATEL, in “Magnesium Technology 2001,” edited by J. Hryn (TMS, 2001) p. 195.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fan, Z., Liu, G. & Wang, Y. Microstructure and mechanical properties of rheo-diecast AZ91D magnesium alloy. J Mater Sci 41, 3631–3644 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-6248-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-6248-x