Effect of strontium on the grain refining efficiency of Mg–3Al alloy refined by carbon inoculation

The effect of Sr on the grain refining efficiency of the Mg–3Al alloy refined by carbon inoculation has been investigated in the present study. A significant grain refinement was obtained for the Mg–3Al alloy treated with either 0.2% C or 0.2% Sr. The Al–C–O particles were found in the sample refined by 0.2% C, and the element O should come from reaction between Al4C3 nuclei of Mg grains and water during the process of sample preparation. The grain size of the sample refined by carbon inoculation was further decreased after the combined addition of Sr. The grain size decreased with increasing Sr content. Much higher refining efficiency was obtained when the Sr addition was increased to 0.5%. Sr is an effective element to improve the grain refining efficiency for the Mg–Al alloys refined by carbon inoculation. The number of Al4C3 particles in the sample refined by the combination of carbon and Sr was more than that in the sample refined by only carbon. No Al–C–O–Sr-rich particles were obviously found in the sample refined by the combination of carbon and a little (<0.5%) Sr addition.