Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-9q27g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T16:13:20.091Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Investigations on the microstructure, mechanical, corrosion and wear properties of Mg–9Al–xGd (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 wt%) alloys

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2017

Karuna Ratnakaran Athul
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Technology Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram 695019, India
Amirthalingam Srinivasan
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Technology Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram 695019, India
Uma Thanu Subramonia Pillai*
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Technology Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram 695019, India
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: utspillai@rediffmail.com
Get access

Abstract

Magnesium alloys with the lowest structural density exhibit unique applications in the automotive and aerospace fields. Rare earth addition is a promising method to enhance the mechanical properties of the Mg alloys. In the present study, the magnesium–aluminium (Mg–9Al) alloy containing varying wt% of gadolinium (Gd) is synthesized using the casting technique. The microstructure, mechanical, corrosion, and wear properties of the developed Mg–9Al–xGd alloy are evaluated and compared to the base Mg–9Al alloy. Microstructural investigation shows significant grain refinement and the presence of Al2Gd in addition to β-Mg17Al12 in the Gd-added alloys. Under tensile loads, the developed Mg–9Al–2Gd alloy exhibits enhancements in ultimate and yield strengths. The corrosion resistance of the alloys is found to increase with increasing Gd content and is optimal at 2 wt%. Considering the higher hardness and dispersity of the Al2Gd phase, Mg–9Al–2Gd has exhibited a higher wear resistance than that of the as-cast Mg–9Al alloy.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Contributing Editor: Amit Bandyopadhyay

References

REFERENCES

Polmear, I.J.: Magnesium alloys. In Light Alloys, 4th ed., Polmear, I.J., ed. (Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2005); p. 237.Google Scholar
Muraliraja, R., Vettrivel, H., and Elansezhian, R.: Synthesis and characterization of magnesium alloy added with yttrium and to study the microstructure and mechanical properties. Int. J. Eng. Innov. Technol. 7, 388 (2013).Google Scholar
Liu, W., Cao, F., Chang, L., Zhang, Z., and Zhang, J.: Effect of rare earth element Ce and La on corrosion behavior of AM60 magnesium alloy. Corros. Sci. 51, 1334 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, J.L., Dong, H.W., Wang, L.D., Wu, Y.M., and Wang, L.M.: Effect of hot rolling on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–5Al–0.3Mn–2Nd alloy. J. Alloys Compd. 507, 178 (2010).Google Scholar
Boby, A., Srinivasan, A., Pillai, U.T.S., and Pai, B.C.: Mechanical characterization and corrosion behavior of newly designed Sn and Y added AZ91 alloy. Mater. Des. 88, 871 (2015).Google Scholar
Boby, A., Srinivasan, A., Pillai, U.T.S., and Pai, B.C.: Effect of antimony and yttrium addition on the high temperature properties of AZ91 magnesium alloy. Procedia Eng. 55, 98 (2013).Google Scholar
Yokobayashi, H., Kishida, K., Inui, H., Yamasaki, M., and Kawamura, Y.: Enrichment of Gd and Al atoms in the quadruple close packed planes and their in-plane long-range ordering in the long period stacking-ordered phase in the Mg–Al–Gd system. Acta Mater. 59, 7287 (2011).Google Scholar
Singh, L.K., Srinivasan, A., Pillai, U.T.S., Joseph, M.A., and Pai, B.C.: The effect of yttrium addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg alloys. Trans. Indian Inst. Met. 68, 331 (2015).Google Scholar
Luo, S., Yang, G., Liu, S., Wang, J., Li, J., and Jie, W.: Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of directionally solidified Mg–xGd (x = 0.8, 1.5, and 2.5) alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 662, 241 (2016).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, W., Cao, F., Zhong, L., Zheng, L., Jia, B., Zhang, Z., and Zhang, J.: Influence of rare earth element Ce and La addition on corrosion behavior of AZ91 magnesium alloy. Mater. Corros. 60, 795 (2009).Google Scholar
Wei-Chao, Z., Shuang-Shou, L., Bin, T., and Da-Ben, Z.: Microstructure and properties of Mg–Al binary alloys. China Foundry 3, 270 (2006).Google Scholar
Zhang, L., Cao, Z.Y., Liu, Y.B., Su, G.H., and Cheng, L.R.: Effect of Al content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg–Al alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 508, 129 (2009).Google Scholar
Lu, Y., Wang, Q., Zeng, X., Ding, W., Zhai, C., and Zhu, Y.: Effects of rare earths on the microstructure, properties and fracture behavior of Mg–Al alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 278, 66 (2000).Google Scholar
Rzychon, T., Kiełbus, A., and Litynska-Dobrzynska, L.: Microstructure, microstructural stability and mechanical properties of sand-cast Mg–4Al–4RE alloy. Mater. Charact. 83, 21 (2013).Google Scholar
Chaubey, A.K., Scudino, S., Prashanth, K.G., and Eckert, J.: Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–Al based alloy modified with cerium. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 625, 46 (2015).Google Scholar
Li, Y., Wei, Y., Hou, L., Guo, C., and Han, P.: Effect of erbium on microstructures and properties of Mg–Al intermetallic. J. Rare Earths 32, 1064 (2014).Google Scholar
Li, K.J.: Effects of Gd on microstructure of Mg–Al magnesium alloy. Adv. Mater. Res. 821–822, 860 (2013).Google Scholar
Chena, H., Zhanga, K., Yaoa, C., Dong, J., Li, Z., and Emmelmann, C.: Effect of Al2Gd on microstructure and properties of laser clad Mg–Al–Gd coatings. Appl. Surf. Sci. 330, 393 (2015).Google Scholar
ASTM E112-13 Standard Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1520/E0112.Google Scholar
ASTM E8/E8M-16a Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1520/E0008_E0008M-16A.Google Scholar
ASTM G99-17 Standard Test Method for Wear Testing with a Pin-on-Disk Apparatus, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1520/G0099-17.Google Scholar
Wei, L.Y. and Dunlop, G.L.: The solidification behaviour of Mg–Al-rare earth alloys. J. Alloys Compd. 232, 264 (1996).Google Scholar
Rzychon, T. and Kiełbus, A.: Effect of rare earth elements on the microstructure of Mg–Al alloys. JAMME 17, 149 (2006).Google Scholar
Chen, H.L., Lin, L., Mao, P.L., and Liu, Z.: Phase stability, electronic, elastic and thermodynamic properties of Al–RE intermetallics in Mg–Al–RE alloy: A first principles study. J. Magnesium Alloys 3, 197 (2015).Google Scholar
Zhu, S.M., Gibson, M.A., Nie, J.F., Eastona, M.A., and Abbott, T.B.: Microstructural analysis of the creep resistance of die-cast Mg–4Al–2RE alloy. Scr. Mater. 58, 477 (2008).Google Scholar
Jo, S.M., Park, K.C., Kim, B.H., Kimura, H., Park, S.K., and Park, Y.H.: Investigation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–Al–Yb alloys. Mater. Trans. 52, 1088 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lu, F., Ma, A., Jiang, J., Guo, Y., Yang, D., Song, D., and Chen, J.: Significantly improved corrosion resistance of heat-treated Mg–Al–Gd alloy containing profuse needle-like precipitates within grains. Corros. Sci. 94, 171 (2015).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, X., Du, W., Liu, K., Wang, Z., and Li, S.: Microstructure, tensile properties and creep behaviors of as-cast Mg–2Al–1Zn–xGd (x = 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt%) alloys. J. Alloys Compd. 522, 78 (2012).Google Scholar
Peng, Q., Dong, H., Wu, Y., and Wang, L.: Age hardening and mechanical properties of Mg–Gd–Er alloy. J. Alloys Compd. 456, 395 (2008).Google Scholar
Wang, J., Wang, L., An, J., and Liu, Y.: Microstructure and elevated temperature properties of die-cast AZ91–xNd magnesium alloys. J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 17, 725 (2008).Google Scholar
Mert, F., Ozdemir, A., Kainer, K.U., and Hort, N.: Influence of Ce addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of high pressure die cast AM50 magnesium alloy. Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 23, 66 (2013).Google Scholar
Zhou, W., Li, Q., Kang, H.J., and Zhang, Q.: Microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ81 alloy with Gd. Appl. Mech. Mater. 117, 1125 (2012).Google Scholar
Guo, Q., Liu, Z., Mao, P., and Sun, J.: Effect of aging temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ81–4%Gd magnesium alloy. Mater. Sci. Forum 747, 301 (2013).Google Scholar
Miao, Y., Yaohui, L., Jiaan, L., and Yulai, S.: Corrosion and mechanical properties of AM50 magnesium alloy after being modified by 1 wt% rare earth element gadolinium. J. Rare Earths 32, 558 (2014).Google Scholar
Song, G.L., Bowles, A.L., and St John, D.H.: Corrosion resistance of aged die cast magnesium alloy AZ91D. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 366, 74 (2004).Google Scholar
Jiao, Y., Zhang, J., He, L., Zhang, M., Jiang, F., Wang, W., Han, L., Xu, L., and Wu, R.: Al-RE intermetallic phase stability and effects on corrosion behavior in cold-chamber HPDC AE44 alloy. Adv. Eng. Mater. 18, 148 (2016).Google Scholar
Song, Y.L., Liu, Y.H., Wang, S.H., Yu, S.R., and Zhu, X.Y.: Effect of cerium addition on microstructure and corrosion resistance of die cast AZ91 magnesium alloy. Mater. Corros. 58, 189 (2007).Google Scholar
Xiaodong, P., Junchen, L., Wenjuan, L., Yan, Y., and Qunyi, W.: Effect of Y on microstructure and mechanical properties as well as corrosion resistance of Mg–9Li–3Al alloy. Rare Met. Mater. Eng. 42, 1993 (2013).Google Scholar
Nouri, M., Sun, X., and Li, D.Y.: Beneficial effects of yttrium on the performance of Mg–3%Al alloy during wear, corrosion and corrosive wear. Tribol. Int. 67, 154 (2013).Google Scholar
Srinivasan, A., Ningshen, S., Kamachi Mudali, U., Pillai, U.T.S., and Pai, B.C.: Influence of Si and Sb additions on the corrosion behavior of AZ91 magnesium alloy. Intermetallics 15, 1511 (2007).Google Scholar
Huang, D., Hu, J., Song, G.L., and Guo, X.: Inhibition effect of inorganic and organic inhibitors on the corrosion of Mg–10Gd–3Y–0.5Zr alloy in an ethylene glycol solution at ambient and elevated temperatures. Electrochim. Acta 56, 10166 (2011).Google Scholar
Rosalbino, F., Angelini, E., De Negri, S., Saccone, A., and Delfino, S.: Electrochemical behaviour assessment of novel Mg-rich Mg–Al–RE alloys (RE = Ce, Er). Intermetallics 14, 1487 (2006).Google Scholar
Arrabal, R., Matykina, E., Pardo, A., Merino, M.C., Paucar, K., Mohedano, M., and Casajus, P.: Corrosion behaviour of AZ91D and AM50 magnesium alloys with Nd and Gd additions in humid environments. Corros. Sci. 55, 351 (2012).Google Scholar
Moosa, A.A.: Effect of lanthanum addition on the microstructure of Mg–4Al alloy. Al-Khwarizmi Eng. J. 7, 75 (2011).Google Scholar
Zafari, A., Ghasemi, H.M., and Mahmudi, R.: An investigation on the tribological behavior of AZ91 and AZ91 + 3 wt% RE magnesium alloys at elevated temperatures. Mater. Des. 54, 544 (2014).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zafari, A., Ghasemi, H.M., and Mahmudi, R.: Tribological behavior of AZ91D magnesium alloy at elevated temperatures. Wear 292, 33 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taltavull, C., Torres, B., Lopez, A.J., and Rams, J.: Dry sliding wear behavior of AM60B magnesium alloy. Wear 301, 615 (2013).Google Scholar