Investigations on a ternary Mg-Ca-Si wrought alloy extruded at moderate temperatures

Abstract

• A Mg-Ca-Si alloy was extruded at 300 °C and 350 °C without any heat treatment. • Extrusion at 300 °C leads to bi-modal microstructure: DRX grains and non-DRX areas. • Elongation to break (>8 %) is comparable for both processing temperatures. • Increased YS is correlated to lower grain size and higher texture intensity. Wrought Magnesium alloys are lightweight structural materials with excellent specific strength. Recently, Ca has received increased attention as a main alloying element in Mg alloys providing advantages in processing and microstructural evolution. Especially the synergetic use with additional elements such as Al, Zn or Sn has shown improved performance in extruded profiles, as it promotes the formation of intermetallic phases and a stable, fine-grained microstructure. Superior mechanical properties can be achieved with these alloys when processed at moderate temperatures. Here we present an investigation into the processing of an Mg-Ca-Si alloy, discussing the alloying principle as well as microstructural and mechanical behavior.