Microstructural refinement and tensile properties enhancement of Mg–3Al alloy using charcoal additions

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 528; no. 6; pp. 2502 - 2508
• Main Authors: Suresh, M., Srinivasan, A., Ravi, K.R., Pillai, U.T.S., Pai, B.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.03.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alloying additive; Aluminum carbides; Applied sciences; Casting; Charcoal; Elasticity. Plasticity; Exact sciences and technology; Grain refinement; Magnesium; Magnesium base alloys; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Mg–Al alloys; Microstructure; Strengthening; Casting; Grain refinement; Mg–Al alloys; Grain size; Addition; Magnesium base alloys; Dispersion hardening; Tensile property; Microstructure; Dispersive spectrometry; Mg―Al alloys; Hall Petch relationship; Charcoal
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2010.12.008

▶ Charcoal addition has made significant grain refinement in Mg–3Al alloy. ▶ The observed grain refinement is due to the presence of Al4C3 particles. ▶ Maximum grain refinement is achieved (500–80μm) with 0.5wt% charcoal addition. ▶ Strengthening mechanisms are also discussed in detail. Significant grain refinement in Mg–3Al alloy is achieved with the addition of charcoal due to the formation of Al4C3 particles, which act as effective nuclei for magnesium grains. Addition of 0.5wt% charcoal has lead to reduced grain size of Mg–3Al alloy from 500 to 80μm and no substantial grain refinement is obtained on further addition of charcoal. The results further reveal that the prolonged holding of the melt after the addition of charcoal has not affected the grain refining efficiency of Al4C3. Steady increase in tensile properties observed with increasing amount of charcoal addition has been attributed to the grain refinement and the presence of fine Al4C3 particles. The strengthening mechanisms due to charcoal addition are discussed in terms of Hall–Petch relation and dispersion strengthening. The predicted values are in good agreement with experimental results.