Effect of Mn on cooling behaviour and microstructure of chill cast Zn–Al (ZA8) alloy

Abstract

In the present work, the effect of manganese addition to ZA8 alloy on thermal analysis parameters, heat transfer and microstructure was investigated. The thermal analysis parameters were found to be significantly affected by chemical modification of ZA8 alloy. Cooling curve and differential scanning calorimetry analyses of modified alloy showed nucleation of new phase other than β dendrites. Chilling of modified alloy resulted in decreased liquidus temperature and enhanced eutectoid transformation. Further, chilling avoids the formation of intermetallic compounds in modified alloy. The heat flux transients were estimated using inverse modelling during solidification of unmodified and modified alloys against different chills. The peak heat flux decreased on addition of Mn to ZA8 alloy. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicated that the addition of Mn to ZA8 alloy decreases the heat of solidification. The addition of Mn to ZA8 alloy increased the contact angle, indicating decreased wettability of the modified alloy on the chill surface. The microstructure of ZA8 with Mn showed an increased amount of β phase and a decreased amount of eutectic. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of MnAl6 intermetallics in Mn added ZA8 alloy. Chilling with chemical modification resulted in enhanced decomposition of β phase.