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Effects of small additions of Zn on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of WE43B Mg alloys

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Abstract

Zn is a commonly used alloying element for Mg alloys owing to its beneficial effects on mechanical properties. To improve the mechanical and corrosion properties of WE43B Mg alloys, the effects of 0–0.7wt% Zn addition on the microstructure and properties of sample alloys were investigated. Addition of Zn to as-cast WE43B alloy promoted the formation of the Mg12Nd phase; by contrast, after T6 heat treatment, the phase composition of WE43B alloys with and without Zn addition remained mostly the same. A long-period stacking ordered phase was predicted by CALPHAD calculation, but this phase was not observed in either the as-cast or heat-treated Zn-containing WE43B alloys. The optimum temperature and duration of T6 heat treatment were obtained using CALPHAD calculations and hardness measurements. Addition of Zn resulted in a slight reduction in the average grain size of the as-cast and T6 heat-treated WE43B alloys and endowed them with increased corrosion resistance with little effect on their mechanical properties.

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Acknowledgements

This research received financial support from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Agreement No. 03.G25.31.0274 (27 May 2017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Foundry Department, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Moscow, 119049, Russia

    A. V. Koltygin, V. E. Bazhenov & R. S. Khasenova

  2. Laboratory of Hybrid Nanostructured Materials, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Moscow, 119049, Russia

    A. A. Komissarov

  3. Laboratory of Advanced Green Materials, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Moscow, 119049, Russia

    A. I. Bazlov

  4. Department of Metallurgy Steel, New Production Technologies and Protection of Metals, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Moscow, 119049, Russia

    V. A. Bautin

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  1. A. V. Koltygin
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Correspondence to V. E. Bazhenov.

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Koltygin, A.V., Bazhenov, V.E., Khasenova, R.S. et al. Effects of small additions of Zn on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of WE43B Mg alloys. Int J Miner Metall Mater 26, 858–868 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1801-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1801-1

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