• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.231-236
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the microstructural characteristics and hardness distribution of AZ91 magnesium alloy furnace-cooled to room temperature after solution treatment, and to compare the results with those of as-cast condition. The as-cast alloy showed a partially divorced eutectic ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ phase and discontinuous precipitates (DPs) with a lamellar morphology, while only DPs were observed in the furnace-cooled alloy. The DPs in the furnace-cooled AZ91 alloy had various apparent interlamellar spacings, which would be ascribed to the different transformation temperatures during the furnace cooling. The average hardness for the furnace-cooled alloy is similar to that for the as-cast alloy. It is interesting to note that the hardness values of the furnace-cooled alloy were distributed over a narrower range than those of the as-cast alloy. This is likely to be caused by the relatively more homogeneous microstructure of the furnace-cooled alloy in comparison with the ascast one.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.619-627
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• 2012

One of the barriers limiting wide applications of magnesium alloys to various industries is their poor corrosion resistance. The corrosion properties of AZ91 magnesium alloy, which is the most popular magnesium casting alloy, are affected by microstructural and environmental factors. The corrosion properties of AZ91 magnesium alloy are affected by the corrosion properties of ${\alpha}-Mg$ and ${\beta}$ phases, the volume fraction and distribution of ${\beta}$ phase and area ratio of ${\alpha}-Mg/{\beta}$ phases. The corrosion properties of AZ91 magnesium alloy under various environments also change according to the passivity of films and types of corrosion products formed on its surface. The corrosion resistance of the magnesium alloys can be improved by microstructural control through the addition of alloying elements and optimization of the production process.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.207-216
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of the addition of Zn, Ca, and SiC on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-Al alloys. The tensile properties of homogenized Mg-xAl (x = 6, 7, 8, and 9 wt.%) alloys increased with increasing Zn content by the solid-solution strengthening effect. However, when the added Zn content exceeded the solubility limit, the strength and ductility of the alloys decreased greatly owing to premature fracture caused by undissolved coarse particles or local melting. Among the Mg-xAl-yZn alloys tested in this study, the AZ74 alloy showed the best tensile properties. However, from the viewpoints of the thermal stability, castability, and tensile properties, the AZ92 alloy was deemed to be the most suitable cast alloy. Moreover, the addition of a small amount (0.17 wt.%) of SiC reduced the average grain size of the AZ91 alloy significantly, from $430{\mu}m$ to $73{\mu}m$. As a result, both the strength and the elongation of the AZ91 alloy increased considerably by the grain-boundary hardening effect and the suppression of twinning behavior, respectively. On the other hand, the addition of Ca (0.5-1.5 wt.%) and a combined addition of Ca (0.5-1.5 wt.%) and SiC (0.17 wt.%) increased the average grain size of the AZ91 alloy, which resulted in a decrease in its tensile properties. The SiC-added AZ92 alloy exhibited excellent tensile properties (YS 125 MPa, UTS 282 MPa, and EL 12.3%), which were much higher than those of commercial AZ91 alloy (YS 93 MPa, UTS 192 MPa, and EL 7.0%). The fluidity of the SiC-added AZ92 alloy was slightly lower than that of the AZ91 alloy because of the expansion of the solid-liquid coexistence region in the former. However, the SiC-added AZ92 alloy showed better hot-tearing resistance than the AZ91 alloy owing to its refined grain structure.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.131-134
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• 2007

[ $SF_6$ ] gas that is used as a protective cover gas for Mg and Mg alloys during melting and casting has extremely high greenhouse effect. CaO added Mg alloys could maintain their original mechanical properties and original abilities such as fluidity and hot tearing susceptibility. The ignition temperature increased with increasing CaO addition under ambient atmosphere and nitrogen atmosphere. The minimum amount of $SF_6$ gas decreased by 0.13 wt%CaO added AZ91D Mg alloy in the sealed condition.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2003

In this study, sand cast AZ91E and zirconium grain refined MEZ are representative of two typical groups of magnesium alloys: those containing aluminium and those containing no aluminium but with zirconium as a grain refiner. The corrosion performance of these two alloys was evaluated and compared in 5%wt NaCI solution through measurements of weight loss and polarisation curves and examination of microstructure. Corrosion damage of AZ91E was deeper and more localised than that of MEZ, while MEZ had a lower rate of cathodic hydrogen evolution and a higher rate of anodic dissolution than AZ91E. These differences in behaviour can be related to the differences in microstructure and chemical composition between the two alloys.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.153-157
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• 2003

본 논문은 레오캐스팅용 AZ91 합금 슬러리를 제조하는 새로운 방법에 관한 것이다. 그 원리는 AZ91 합금 액상에서 Mn의 용해도차에 의해 생성되는 $Al_8(Mn,Fe)_5$ 정출물을 ${\alpha}-Mg$ 초정 생성을 위한 불균일 핵생성 자리로 사용하고자 하는 것이다. 제조된 슬러리의 미세조직 분석결과 $Al_8(Mn,Fe)_5$ 정출물이 ${\alpha}-Mg$ 내에 위치하고 있어, 이로부터 정출물이 효과적으로 불균일 핵생성 자리로 작용하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 또한 Mn 함량의 증가는 $Al_8(Mn,Fe)_5$ 정출물 수를 증가시켜 고상분율이 일정할 때 슬러리 내 ${\alpha}-Mg$ 고상의 크기를 감소시키고 구형도를 향상시킨다. 이외에도 냉각속도 및 유지시간이 슬러리 미세조직에 미치는 영향에 대해서도 보고하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.185-190
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• 2014

The influences of small amount of Sn addition on microstructure and creep resistance of AZ91-0.4%Ca alloy have been investigated. The microstructure of the AZ91-0.4%Ca alloy was characterized by ${\alpha}$-(Mg) dendrite cells surrounded by eutectic ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ and $Al_2Ca$ phases. The 0.5%Sn addition resulted in the formation of rod-shaped CaMgSn particles with the extinction of $Al_2Ca$. The Sn-containing alloy exhibited better creep resistance below $175^{\circ}C$, but the tendency was reversed above $200^{\circ}C$. The reason was discussed in relation to the change in thermal stability of ${\beta}$ phase in response to the Sn addition.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.432-438
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• 2017

AZ91D casting alloy requires an advanced plasma anodizing processing because large amount of defects are liable to generate during anodization. In this study, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of AZ91D Mg alloy was conducted by the application of either constant voltage or current using a pulse mode and its effects on pore formation, surface roughness and corrosion resistance were investigated. The PEO films showed a three-layer structure. The PEO film thickness was found to increase linearly with voltage. The surface roughness, Ra, ranged between $0.2{\mu}m$ and $0.3{\mu}m$. The corrosion resistance increased from RN 3.5 to 9.5 by the PEO treatment when evaluated according to the 72 hour salt spray test. The PEO-treated surface exhibited higher pitting potential than the raw material.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.281-289
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• 1999

The stirred and thixoformed $SiC_p/AZ91HP$ Mg composites are studied on the basis of microstructural analysis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The products of interfacial reaction are identified as $Mg_2Si$, MgO and $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ phases and the crystallized phases are found to be orthorhmbic $Al_6Mn$ and decagonal T phases. It is shown that $Mg_2Si$ and $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ phases are found at the surface of $SiC_p$ and $Al_6Mn$ is found near interface and crystallized on the matrix. Phase identification is carried out by crystallographic work based on primitive cell volume, zero order Laue zone (ZOLZ) patterns and single convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) patterns containing higher order Laue zone ring from a nanosized region.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.218-221
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• 2006

Influence of microstructure on the corrosion property of Mg-Al-Zn alloy was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization experiments, galvanic coupling experiments, and scanning electron microscopy in sodium chloride solutions. Pitting was the most common form of attack in chloride solution, and filiform corrosion was also occurred in AZ91D-T4 alloy. On the contrary, filiform attack in the bulk matrix was predominant corrosion form in AZ91D-T6 alloy, and the number and size of pit were decreased than those of AZ91D-T4 alloy. Galvanic coupling effect between $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ and matrix was existed, but the propagation of galvanic corrosion was localized only near the $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ phase in AZ91D-6T alloy. The corrosion resistance of Mg-Al matrix increased with decreasing Al content in the matrix. And, it could be regarded that Al content in the matrix is decreased by precipitation of $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ during the aging treatment and it decreases the anodic reaction rate of the matrix and galvanic effect in AZ91D-T6 alloy. It could be considered that the composition and microstructure of surface protective layer would be varied by precipitation of $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ and subsequent decreasing of Al content in the matrix. And it would contribute the corrosion resistance of AZ91D-T6 aging alloy.