Prediction of electrical/thermal conductivity in as-cast Mg binary alloys

Abstract

Thermal and electrical conductivity are essential when selecting materials for certain applications. We first present here an analysis of main influencing factors in electrical conductivity of as-cast Mg binary alloys, particularly the effect of the microsegregation of solutes during solidification. A theoretical model is then developed for electrical conductivity in binary Mg alloys, focusing on the effect of solute type and content, and applied to 8 Mg alloy systems with remarkable agreement. Electrical conductivity is then converted into thermal conductivity by Wiedemann–Franz's law, which is also applied to 8 Mg alloy systems, showing significant consistency. This finding provides an easy method for designing and evaluating the electrical/thermal conductivity for Mg alloys, or may be extended to other alloys.