Comparison of Technologies for the Magnesium Alloys Protection Using the Quality Assessment and Quantitative Metallography

Abstract

AbstractTrends in the development of industry and engineering require the development of technologies for casting light alloys. In modern technology, the development of magnesium production is most relevant. Technological processes of melting of magnesium alloys in a protective gas atmosphere with their continuous or pulsed supply to the melting or distribution unit, as well as an automated system of control and management of the technological process of gas protection of magnesium melt in melting and distribution units of complexes. Two technologies for the protection of magnesium alloys during melting, flux, and flux-free pulsed, were investigated. A large number of non-metallic inclusions are associated with the use of flux and flux-free protection. To reduce non-metallic inclusions in magnesium castings, the authors propose using a pulsed supply of protective gases. For the analysis of the casting results, a special software package was used. The study aims at a quantitative analysis of the microstructures of alloys using the computer metallography. The paper presents the positive results of the introduction of a new technological process. The number of non-metallic inclusions in castings from magnesium alloy AZ91D obtained by the new technology has significantly decreased.KeywordsMagnesium alloysMetallographic analysisNon-metallic inclusionsCastings