A. K. Dahle

The role of solute in grain refinement of magnesium

The effect of separate solute additions of Al, Zr, Sr, Si, and Ca on grain size of Mg has been investigated. Increasing the Al content in hypoeutectic Mg-Al alloys resulted in a continuous reduction in grain size up to 5 wt pct Al, reaching a relatively constant grain size for higher Al contents (above 5 wt pct). The effect of Sr additions was investigated in both low- and high-Al content magnesium alloys, and it was found that Sr had a significant grain refining effect in low-Al containing alloys but a negligible effect on grain size in Mg-9Al. Additions of Zr, Si, and Ca to pure magnesium resulted in efficient grain refinement. The grain refinement is mainly caused by their growth restriction effects, i.e., constitutional undercooling, during solidification, but the effect of nucleant particles, either introduced with the alloying additions or as secondary phases formed as a result of these additions, may enhance the grain refinement. A brief review of grain refinement of magnesium alloys is included in this article to provide an update on research in this field.

Development of the as-cast microstructure in magnesium–aluminium alloys

Abstract This paper presents an overview of several projects undertaken at CAST to increase our understanding of the solidification characteristics of Mg–Al alloys. With the increased use of magnesium alloys, and with casting dominating as a production route, there is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of solidification and defect formation to allow further optimisation of alloys and casting processes. The paper starts with considering the formation of the primary magnesium dendrites and the means for grain refinement of magnesium–aluminium alloys. The Mg–Al system is then shown to display a range of eutectic morphologies for increasing aluminium content, ranging from a divorced structure, through several intermediate structures, to a fully lamellar structure at the eutectic composition. The eutectic also influences discontinuous precipitation which occurs in the aluminium-rich regions of the magnesium phase. The paper concludes with a section on porosity formation as a function of aluminium content and an outline of the mechanism responsible for the formation of banded defects in magnesium alloys, particularly in products made in pressure assisted casting processes.

Modification of Al-Si alloys with Ba, Ca, Y and Yb

Abstract Modification of Al–Si alloys is known to result in a depression of the eutectic arrest temperature. It has been suggested that a larger depression is related to increased modification. The effects of different concentrations of separate additions of Ba, Ca, Y and Yb on the eutectic arrest in an A356.0 (Al–7%Si–Mg) alloy have been studied by thermal analysis. All of these elements cause a depression of the eutectic arrest, however Ba and Ca result in fibrous eutectic Si while Y and Yb result in a refined plate-like eutectic silicon. Analysis of the effects of the elements on eutectic nucleation and growth temperatures and the recalescence shows two different trends. Addition of Ba and Yb both causes linear changes with increased concentration, while addition of Ca and Y result in an instantaneous effect with the first addition and no further significant changes with increased concentration.

Rheological behaviour of the mushy zone and its effect on the formation of casting defects during solidification

A new conceptual framework has been developed which explains the formation of shear-related casting defects such as porosity, segregation and tears. The theory relates defect formation to the mechanical behaviour of the partially solidified microstructure when shear stresses are developed during the filling of a casting and by the subsequent feeding processes during solidification. Two transition points, the dendrite coherency point and the maximum packing solid fraction, divide the mushy zone into three regions of different mechanical and feeding behaviours. The response of the mush to shear is related to the presence of these zones during solidification of a casting. The resulting defects are rationalized by considering the governing local shear stress and shear rate, local strength and time available for fluid flow. The design of the casting, the casting process used and the alloy composition all influence the relative importance of shearing on defect formation.

The effect of grain refinement and silicon content on grain formation in hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys

The effect of increasing the amount of added grain refiner on grain size and morphology has been investigated for a range of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys. The results show a transition in grain size at a silicon concentration of about 3 wt% in unrefined alloys; the grain size decreasing with silicon content before the transition, and increasing beyond the transition point. A change in morphology also occurs with increased silicon content. The addition of grain refiner leads to greater refinement for silicon contents below the transition point than for those contents above the transition point, while the transition point seems to remain unchanged. The slope of the grain size versus silicon content curve after the transition seems to be unaffected by the degree of grain refinement. The results are related to the competitive processes of nucleation and constitutional effects during growth and their impact on nucleation kinetics

Dilatant shear bands in solidifying metals

Compacted granular materials expand in response to shear, and can exhibit different behaviour from that of the solids, liquids and gases of which they are composed. Application of the physics of granular materials has increased the understanding of avalanches, geological faults, flow in hoppers and silos, and soil mechanics. During the equiaxed solidification of metallic alloys, there exists a range of solid fractions where the microstructure consists of a geometrically crowded disordered assembly of crystals saturated with liquid. It is therefore natural to ask if such a microstructure deforms as a granular material and what relevance this might have to solidification processing. Here we show that partially solidified alloys can exhibit the characteristics of a cohesionless granular material, including Reynolds’ dilatancy and strain localization in dilatant shear bands 7–18 mean crystals wide. We show that this behaviour is important in defect formation during high pressure die casting of Al and Mg alloys, a global industry that contributes over

Formation of defect bands in high pressure die cast magnesium alloys

7.3 billion to the USA’s economy alone and is used in the manufacture of products that include mobile-phone covers and steering wheels. More broadly, these findings highlight the potential to apply the principles and modelling approaches developed in granular mechanics to the field of solidification processing, and also indicate the possible benefits that might be gained from exploring and exploiting further synergies between these fields.

Mechanisms of eutectic solidification in Al–Si alloys modified with Ba, Ca, Y and Yb

Die cast magnesium components are being increasingly used worldwide because of the excellent castability and properties that magnesium alloys offer. High pressure die casting of thin-walled components is particularly suitable because of the excellent flow characteristics of molten magnesium alloys. Typical automotive applications for thin-walled castings include components such as instrument panels, steering wheels, door frames and seat frames. These applications require optimisation of the quality and performance of the castings. It has been found that bands of porosity or segregation which follow contours parallel to the surface of the casting are formed under certain casting conditions in thin-walled magnesium high pressure die castings. The presence of this type of defect can have a significant effect on the mechanical properties. This paper investigates the effect of varied casting conditions on casting integrity and the appearance of the bands. A rationale for understanding the origin of these defects is related to the solidification behaviour, the mushy zone rheological properties and the filling pattern of the casting with associated shearing of the mushy zone. Methods to optimise the process parameters to control the occurrence of the banded defects, and thereby optimise the quality of high pressure die cast magnesium components, are outlined.

Effects of boron on eutectic modification of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys

Abstract The eutectic solidification mechanisms in an A356.0 (Al–7%Si–Mg) alloy modified by barium, calcium, yttrium and ytterbium have been determined. The crystallographic orientations of aluminium in the eutectic and the surrounding aluminium dendrites were measured by electron backscattering diffraction mapping, and samples were also quenched at different stages during the eutectic arrest and examined by optical microscopy. The combination of these two techniques shows that each of the elements added promote heterogeneous nucleation of eutectic grains in the interdendritic liquid, while the aluminium in the unmodified alloy grows epitaxially from the dendrites. Furthermore, calcium and yttrium result in a strong dependency of eutectic solidification on the thermal gradient, i.e. the eutectic evolves from the walls towards the centre of the sample on a macro-scale. These differences in eutectic solidification mode show a correlation with some thermal characteristics of the eutectic arrest.

Columnar to equiaxed transition of eutectic in hypoeutectic aluminium–silicon alloys

The effects of boron on the eutectic modification and solidification mode of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys have been studied adding different boride phases. The results show that boron does not cause modification of the eutectic silicon. Boron-containing samples display eutectic nucleation and growth characteristics similar to that of unmodified alloys