Solidification and Microstructure Control of Mg-rich Alloys in the Mg-Zn-Y Ternary Systemya

Solidification microstructures of Mg rich Mg-Zn-Y alloys were studied by using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Pseudo eutectic reaction (Liquid→α-Mg + icosahedral phase) takes place during solidification. Alloys containing high Mg content solidifies by primary crystallization ofα-Mg followed by the eutectic reaction at interdendritic region. Mg 68 Zn 28 Y 4 alloy solidifies by primary crystallization of I-phase followed by theeutectic reaction into a mixture of α-Mg and I-phase. Occasionally D-phase and Mg 4 Zn 7 phases were observed to form with orientation relationships with previously formed I-phase and D-phase, respectively. Thestrength of the alloys increased with increasing the volume fraction of I-phase.