Effect of Ce addition on thermal conductivity of Mg–2Zn–1Mn alloy

Abstract

The concentration dependence of thermal conductivity of as-cast and as-extruded Mg–2wt.%Zn–1wt.%Mn–[x]wt.%Ce (x=0, 0.2 and 0.6) alloys was investigated using flash method at room temperature, respectively. According to the present experimental results, the thermal conductivity of as-cast ZM21-0.2Ce alloy was higher than that of as-cast ZM21 and ZM21-0.6Ce alloys, while thermal conductivity of as-extruded alloys increased unconventionally with the Ce content increasing. The obtained highest thermal conductivity of as-extruded ZM21-0.6Ce alloy at room temperature was 133.29W/(m·K). Meanwhile, as-extruded ZM21-xCe alloys exhibited higher thermal conductivity than their as-cast counterparts because of the precipitation of Mn particles and some intermetallic compounds containing Ce. Furthermore, the texture had an important effect on the thermal conductivity of as-extruded ZM21-xCe alloys.