Papers by Author: Hwa Chul Jung

Abstract: Magnesium has the lowest density among the commercially available structural metals and its superior physical and mechanical properties make magnesium alloys extremely attractive for applications requiring lightweight, good castability and damping capacity. In recent years, due to the demand for lightweight magnesium components in the automobile and electronic industries, the world market for magnesium alloys has increased rapidly. At the same time, the research activities on manufacturing process and characterization of magnesium alloys have also increased significantly. The research activities have been concentrated on many different fields, including the development of high pressure die casting process and semi-solid processing, development of high strength wrought alloys and components, and characterization of microstructure, mechanical properties as well as corrosion properties. In this article, the recent progresses achieved in these research areas at Seoul National University will be introduced.

Abstract: The demand for magnesium alloys has increased significantly during the past decade in the automotive and electronic industries where weight reduction becomes increasingly an important issue. At present, high-pressure die casting (HPDC) is a dominant process in production of magnesium alloy components. However, magnesium alloy components produced by HPDC suffer from porosity problem and this limits the enhancement of mechanical properties through subsequent heat treatments. The semi-solid processing (SSP) is an emerging new technology for near-net shape production of engineering components, in which the alloys are processed in the temperature range where the liquid and solid phases coexist. The SSP has various advantages over the conventional casting processes. It offers the castings with high integrity and less porosity and allows subsequent heat treatments for enhancement of mechanical properties. For these advantages, the SSP of magnesium alloys has received increasing attention in recent years. In the present study, the continuous casting process was developed for the production of magnesium billets for the subsequent SSP. The process utilizes an electromagnetic stirring system in order to obtain desired microstructure with an excellent degree of homogeneity in both microstructure and composition. Prototypes of an air conditioner cover and a telescope housing were produced using the SSP of the continuously cast magnesium alloy billets.

Abstract: Magnesium die-casting has experienced dramatic growth over the past decade and the recycling of magnesium scrap has become increasingly important due to the generation of substantial quantities of scrap in the die-casting process. Magnesium is a readily recyclable material and the recycling of magnesium scrap is crucial in making magnesium more competitive. The main concern associated with using the secondary magnesium is the high level of Fe content and oxide inclusions that are detrimental to the corrosion and mechanical properties of the secondary alloy. In this study, the die-cast specimens were produced using the recycled class 1 scrap which is refined by means of Ar bubbling and Mn addition without using refining fluxes, and their mechanical properties and corrosion characteristics were investigated. The results showed that the tensile properties of the secondary AZ91 alloy were equivalent to those of the primary magnesium alloy after appropriate treatments. The corrosion resistance of the recycled magnesium was also found to increase by Ar bubbling and Mn addition.

Abstract: Semi-solid processing is recognized as an attractive alternative method for the near net-shape production of engineering components. Although there has been a significant progress in semi-solid processing of aluminum alloys, very limited information is available on semi-solid processing of magnesium alloys, except for the thixomolding process. Continuous casting process has been utilized to produce the billets with the desirable cross-section at a reduced production cost for many metals, such as steel, copper and aluminum alloys. It has also been commercially utilized to produce the aluminum billets with non-dendritic microstructure for subsequent thixocasting process. However, continuous casting of magnesium billets for semi-solid processing has not yet been commercialized due to the difficulties involved in casting of magnesium alloys. In the present study, a continuous casting process has been developed for the production of the cylindrical billets of magnesium alloys for the subsequent thixocasting process. In order to obtain the desired non-dendritic microstructure with an excellent degree of homogeneity both in microstructure and composition, an electromagnetic stirring system has been utilized. A continuous casting process has been proven to be an efficient way to produce the high quality billets of magnesium alloys for semi-solid processing. A prototype air conditioner cover was produced using the continuously cast billets of AZ91 alloy.