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The effect of addition of cerium on the grain refinement of Mg–3Al–1Zn cast alloy

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Abstract

The microstructures of the cast Mg–3Al–1Zn–xCe (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 wt%) alloys produced by twin-roll casting were observed to reveal the effect of cerium (Ce) on the Mg–3Al–1Zn (AZ31) alloy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of Al4Ce particles at the centers of grains was observed, and the crystallographic calculations between Al4Ce and α-Mg were examined on the basis of the edge-to-edge matching model. The results indicated that the addition of Ce effectively reduces the grain size of the cast AZ31 alloy produced by twin-roll casting. The finest grains with an average grain size of 55 μm are achieved at 0.4 wt% addition of Ce. TEM observation and good crystallographic matching between Al4Ce and α-Mg suggest that promotion of heterogeneous nucleation of α-Mg on Al4Ce particles formed in the melt is responsible for the grain refinement when adding Ce to the cast AZ31 alloy.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the financial supports from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51171212), Chongqing Science & Technology Commission (Grant Nos. 2010CSTC-HDLS, CSTC2010AA4048, and CSTC2012JJJQ50001), China National Funds for Distinguished Young Scientists (Grant No. 50725413), The National Industrialization Technology and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2011BAE22B03-3), and Project (Grant No. CDJXS12130009) supported by Chongqing University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National engineering research center for magnesium alloys, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Bin Jiang & Fusheng Pan

  2. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Bin Jiang, Ying Zeng, Jichao Liao & Fusheng Pan

  3. Division of Materials, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Mingxing Zhang

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  1. Bin Jiang
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Correspondence to Bin Jiang.

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Jiang, B., Zeng, Y., Zhang, M. et al. The effect of addition of cerium on the grain refinement of Mg–3Al–1Zn cast alloy. Journal of Materials Research 28, 2694–2700 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2013.237

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