Abstract
The effect of Mn addition on grain refinement of a biodegradable as-cast Mg alloy, Mg4Zn0.5CaxMn (x = 0, 0.4, or 0.8 wt%), was investigated by analyzing its solidification behavior and microstructure. The solidification cooling curves and results of differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed that the degree of supercooling of the as-cast alloy increased with the addition of Mn. The accumulation of solute elements (Zn and Ca) in the final solidification zone after the addition of Mn was analyzed quantitatively using a field-emission electron probe microanalyzer and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The grain sizes of the Mg4Zn0.5Ca, Mg4Zn0.5Ca–0.4Mn, and Mg4Zn0.5Ca0.8Mn alloys, determined from their electron backscatter diffraction grain maps, were 124, 72, and 46 μm, respectively. These results indicate that adding Mn to the alloy Mg4Zn0.5Ca causes gradual grain refinement, which is related to undercooling.
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