The Thermal Diffusivity of Mg-Al-Sr and Mg-Al-Ca-Sr Sand Casting Magnesium Alloys

Abstract

In the present study, the thermal diffusivity of four sand casting magnesium alloys: Mg-9Al-1Zn, Mg-6Al-2Sr, Mg-9Al-1.5Ca-0.3Sr and Mg-9Al-2.2Ca-0.8Sr were studied. Sand casting was performed at 730-780°C temperatures. Thermal diffusivity was measured by a LFA 427 Netzsch apparatus. The thermal diffusivity of the investigated alloys was chemical composition and temperature dependent and increased with increasing temperature. The thermal diffusivity of Mg-Al-Ca-Sr alloys was higher than that of Mg-Al alloy, because the total volume fraction of intermetallic phases in alloys containing calcium and strontium is larger than that in Mg-Al alloy. The formation of intermetallic phases caused the consumption of the solute element in the α-Mg matrix, and improved the thermal diffusivity of the Mg-Al-Ca-Sr magnesium alloy.