Effects of Melt Superheating Holding Time on Solidification Structure and Mechanical Property of AZ31B Magnesium Alloy

Abstract

Effects of melt superheating holding time on microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ31B magnesium alloy were studied. The results show that the grain size of AZ31B magnesium alloy is gradually increased with the elongation of holding time. The grain is the finest without insulation work, and the increase amplitude of grain size is the most when holding for 20 minutes in this experiment. The higher is the melt superheating temperature, the larger the increase amplitude of grain size when holding for 20 minutes is. The tensile strength, yield strength and elongation percentage of AZ31B magnesium alloy specimens are small declined with the elongation of holding time under lower melt temperature. At 850°C or 900°C, the mechanical properties are rapidly declined with the elongation of holding time when holding time is less than 20 minutes, whereas the mechanical properties are slight increased when holding time is more than 20 minutes. DSC analysis shows that the elongation of holding time causes the increase of solidification onset temperature and the augment of solidification range, so the undercooling degree and nucleation rate are decreased in the melt, which result in the grain coarsening and the mechanical properties decrease.