Effects of Aluminum Content on the As-Cast Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg-xAl-0.7Si Based Alloys

The effects of the Al content on the as-cast microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-xAl-0.7Si based magnesium alloys which contained 1%Zn, 0.25%Mn, 0.4%Sb and 0.25%RE were investigated by optical microscopy(OM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis and tensile testing. The results indicated that the effects of the Al content from 6% to 8% on the alloy phase types of the experimental alloys were not obvious, and the as-cast microstructure of the experimental alloys with different Al content were composed mainly of the α-Mg matrix, Mg17Al12 phase, Mg2Si phase and Mg3Sb2 phase. The Chinese script morphology of the Mg2Si phase was very obvious in the experimental alloy with 6%Al. With the increase of Al content from 6% to 8%, the yield strength of the experimental Mg-xA1-0.7Si based alloys at room temperature increased, but the yield strength of the experimental Mg-xA1-0.7Si based alloys at 150 °C decreased.