Effect of Grain Size on Microstructure and Aging Behavior in AM60 Magnesium Alloy

Abstract

Our recent studies showed that continuous and cellular precipitates are covered with the whole of crystal grain in age hardable AM60 magnesium alloy cast into permanent molds, which have the average grain size of 75-85μm. Also, continuous precipitation is generated nearby grain boundary in the same alloys cast into sand molds, which have the average grain size of 138-147μm. It’s thought that permanent mold castings have the age hardening behavior of intragranular precipitation participation type that is influenced by continuous precipitates. It’s also thought that sand mold castings have the age hardening behavior of grain boundary participation type that is influenced by cellular precipitates. In this study, AM60 magnesium alloy with larger grain size was used to detect the grain size dependence of microstructure and aging behavior. In the microstructure of as-cast condition, the larger the grain size, it was shown that the none-equilibrium crystallized β phase with eutectic reaction during the solidification between liquidus and solidus temperatures becomes large-size. In the age hardening curves, the peak hardness values become higher with decreasing of grain size.