Effect of ZnO Nanoparticles on Grain Refinement of Mg-Al-Zn Alloy by Thixoforming Process

Abstract:

Thixoforming process is one method to improve the mechanical properties, especially in the manufacture of magnesium alloy components. This method is an alternative to lightweight structures and simultaneously efficient use of raw materials, fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness. The aim of this study is investigates the effect of ZnO nanoparticles addition on grain refinement of Mg-Al-Zn alloy by thixoforming. In these experiments, ZnO nanoparticles added from 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 wt. % to Mg-Al-Zn alloy and thixoforming temperature set-up at 530°C. The results showed that the increasing of weight % ZnO nanoparticles cause decreasing grain size average of Mg-Al-Zn alloy both as-cast and thixoforming. On 0.5 wt. % ZnO addition was obtained grain refinement 39.87 μm (decreased 29.29%) and hardness 73.80 HB (increased 53.94%) compared to as-cast.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 811)
• Pages: 170-178
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.811.170
• Online since: July 2019
• Authors: Kusharjanto Kusharjanto*, Syoni Soepriyanto, Akhmad Ardian Korda, Supono Adi Dwiwanto
• Keywords: Grain Refinement, Mg-Al-Zn Alloy, Thixoforming, ZnO Nanoparticles

References

[1] H. Watarai, Trend of Research and Development for Magnesium Alloys,, Sci. Technol. Trends, no. 18, p.84–97, (2006).

[2] B. B. Mark, Remarkable Magnesium : the 21st Century Structural Alloy for Small Components,, (2010).

[3] M. James, J. M. Kihiu, G. O. Rading, and J. K. Kimotho, Use of Magnesium Alloys in Optimizing The Weight of Automobile : Current Trends and Opportunities,, Sustain. Res. Innov. Proc., vol. 3, p.4–6, (2011).

[4] Yo Kojima, Project of Platform Science and Technology for Advanced Magnesium Alloys,, Mater. Trans., vol. 42, no. 7, p.1154–1159, (2001).

DOI: 10.2320/matertrans.42.1154

[5] J. F. King, Magnesium: Commodity or Exotic?,, Mater. Sci. Technol., vol. 23, no. 1, p.1–14, (2007).

[6] M. K. Kulekci, Magnesium and Its Alloys Applications in Automotive Industry,, Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol., vol. 39, no. 9–10, p.851–865, (2008).

DOI: 10.1007/s00170-007-1279-2

[7] K. Lee, A Study on Grain Refinement of AZ91E Magnesium Alloy with Al-5TiB2, Al-Al4C3 and ZnO Additions,, Ryerson University, (2011).

DOI: 10.32920/ryerson.14653599.v1

[8] W. L. Cheng, S. S. Park, W. N. Tang, B. S. You, and B. H. Koo, Influence of Alloying Elements on Microstructure and Microhardness of Mg-Sn-Zn-based Alloys,, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China (English Ed., vol. 20, no. 12, p.2246–2252, (2010).

DOI: 10.1016/s1003-6326(10)60636-x

[9] Y. Zhiyong, Z. Zhaoguang, Z. Jinshan, and W. Yinghui, Effect of Cu-rich Rare Earth on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg-10Zn-5Al-0.1Sb Magnesium Alloy,, China Foundry, vol. 9, no. 2, p.131–135, (2012).

[10] Y. Nakaura, A. Watanabe, and K. Ohori, Effects of Ca,Sr Additions on Properties of Mg-Al Based Alloys,, Mater. Trans., vol. 47, no. 4, p.1031–1039, (2006).

DOI: 10.2320/matertrans.47.1031

[11] S. F. Liu, B. Li, X. H. Wang, W. Su, and H. Han, Refinement Effect of Cerium, Calcium and Strontium in AZ91 Magnesium Alloy,, J. Mater. Process. Technol., vol. 209, no. 8, p.3999–4004, (2009).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2008.09.020

[12] M. Paramsothy, J. Chan, R. Kwok, and M. Gupta, Al2O3 Nanoparticle Addition to Commercial Magnesium Alloys: Multiple Beneficial Effects,, Nanomaterials, vol. 2, no. 4, p.147–162, (2012).

DOI: 10.3390/nano2020147

[13] B. Jiang, D. Qiu, M. X. Zhang, P. D. Ding, and L. Gao, A New Approach to Grain Refinement of an Mg-Li-Al Cast Alloy,, J. Alloys Compd., vol. 492, no. 1–2, p.95–98, (2010).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2009.11.066

[14] T. J. Chen, Y. Ma, R. Q. Wang, Y. D. Li, and Y. Hao, Microstructural Evolution during Partial Remelting of AM60B Magnesium Alloy Refined by MgCO3,, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China (English Ed., vol. 20, no. 9, p.1615–1621, (2010).

DOI: 10.1016/s1003-6326(09)60348-4

[15] T. J. Chen, X. D. Jiang, Y. Ma, R. Q. Wang, and Y. Hao, Grain Refinement of AZ91D Magnesium Alloy by MgCO3,, Mater. Res., vol. 14, no. 1, p.124–133, (2011).

DOI: 10.1590/s1516-14392011005000017

[16] H. M. Fu, D. Qiu, M. X. Zhang, H. Wang, P. M. Kelly, and J. A. Taylor, The Development of a New Grain Refiner for Magnesium Alloys using The Edge-to-edge Model,, J. Alloys Compd., vol. 456, no. 1–2, p.390–394, (2008).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2007.02.076

[17] S. Sankaranarayanan, U. Pranav Nayak, R. K. Sabat, S. Suwas, A. Almajid, and M. Gupta, Nano-ZnO Particle Addition to Monolithic Magnesium for Enhanced Tensile and Compressive Response,, J. Alloys Compd., vol. 615, p.211–219, (2014).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.06.163

[18] Z. Mingxing, Recent Research Progress in Grain Refinement of Cast Metals., (2012).

[19] S. Saha and C. Ravindran, Effects of Zinc Oxide Addition on The Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AZ91E Mg Alloy,, Int. J. Met., vol. 9, no. 4, p.39–48, (2015).

DOI: 10.1007/bf03356039

[20] X. Liu, Z. Zhang, W. Hu, Q. Le, L. Bao, and K. K. Lu, Grain Refining Mechanism of ZnO Particles on Magnesium Alloys,, Indian J. Eng. Mater. Sci., vol. 23, no. 6, p.383–388, (2016).

[21] Kusharjanto, S. Soepriyanto, A. A. Korda, and S. A. Dwiwanto, Effect of ZnO Nanoparticles to Mechanical Properties of Thixoformed Mg-Al-Zn Alloy,, Mater. Res. Express, vol. 5, no. 3, p.1–19, (2018).

DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/aab3b1

[22] A. Lowe, K. Ridgway, and H. Atkinson, QFD in New Production Technology Evaluation,, Int. J. Prod. Econ., vol. 67, no. 2, p.103–112, (2000).

DOI: 10.1016/s0925-5273(99)00125-5

[23] C. A. Shehata, M. T.; Essadiqi, E.; Loong, Semi-Solid Processing of Magnesium Alloys,, Natl. Res. Counc. Canada, (2011).