Experimental study of phase equilibria and solidification microstructures of Mg–Ca–Ce alloys combined with thermodynamic modeling

Abstract

Thermodynamic descriptions of binary Ca–Ce and ternary Mg–Ca–Ce systems were generated using the Calphad method. Complementary experimental study of phase equilibria and solidification microstructures was done using metallography, scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The microstructures of these Mg-rich alloys formed during slow solidification and the type and sequence of solid phase precipitation compares well with thermodynamic equilibrium and non-equilibrium calculations.