MICROSTRUCTURE OF CAST MgBi6X0.5 (X = Ca, Mn, Zn) ALLOYS IN PEAK-AGED CONDITION

Abstract

Cast magnesium alloys are characterised by the lowest density among commercially used structural metals. They are applied mainly in the transportation industry and small, lightweight electronic devices. Due to the low operating temperature of the most widely used alloys from the Mg-Al system, alloys containing rare earth elements with the maximum working temperature reaching 300°C have been developed. However, these alloys are extremely expensive due to the low availability of RE elements. The Mg-Bi system is a promising candidate for the new magnesium-based alloys, as it reveals limited solubility of Bi in Mg enabling precipitation hardening and a high melting point of the Mg3Bi2 phase. The paper presents the results of the analysis of MgBi6 and MgBi6X0.5 (X = Ca, Mn, Zn) alloys’ microstructure in the peak-aged condition. The microstructure of the analysed alloys in the as-cast condition consists of α-Mg solid solution dendrites and Mg3Bi2+α-Mg eutectic compound. Solutionising conducted at 525°C for 8 h, followed by water quenching leads to the dissolution of the intermetallic phases in all of the investigated alloys apart of the MgBi6Ca0.5 alloy. In this case, fine intermetallic phases containing Mg, Bi, and Ca have been found after solutionising. The ageing of the alloys at 200°C results in peak hardness after 120–144 h. The heat treatment leads to the formation of fine strengthening phases within the α-Mg solid solution, characterised by a variety of morphologies – needle, platelet- or lathlike and cuboid. The needle- and platelet- or lathlike phases are found in two sizes – large, with length reaching hundreds of nanometres, and smaller, not exceeding 100 nm. Cuboid particles are found with sizes not higher than 100 nm. The addition of Mn and Zn increases precipitate volume fraction after the heat treatment. Additionally, in the case of the MgBi6Zn0.5 alloy, particles forming an angle of 120° were found, which indicates their presence at the prismatic planes of α-Mg HCP crystal lattice.