The technique of tinning on magnesium has been used to improve the tungsten inert gas (TIG) lap weldability of dissimilar alloys of dissimilar metal Al 6061 to Mg AZ31B. The composition at the interface of the samples welded both directly and after tinning on magnesium was mapped by electron probe microstructure analysis (EPMA). Results revealed that tinning on the magnesium plate could eliminate the factors which affect the wet ability at the interface of the samples TIG welded directly. Tinning did not prevent the interaction between Mg and Al to form intermetallic compounds completely, but reduced the intermetallic compounds to some degree.

The evaporation capacity of alloys differs with temperature, and this is the basis of a new experimental method to measure the boiling points of various kinds of alloys. In the present work, the effects of Al, Zn, Mn and La additions on the boiling point of magnesium have been studied. It is shown that various elemental additions and their varying contents in magnesium alloys have different influences on the boiling point of the alloys. Among these additions, Zn affected the boiling point of magnesium alloys most obviously, followed by Mn, Al and La. The boiling point of Mg-6 wt-%Zn alloy was the highest in the present study, up to 1715 K.