Effects of solutionized Al–10Sr master alloys on grain refinement of AZ31 magnesium alloy

In the paper, the effects of solutionized Al–10Sr master alloys on grain refinement of AZ31 magnesium alloy are investigated. The results indicate that the effects of solid solution treatment on the morphology and size of Al4Sr phases in the commercial Al–10Sr master alloy are obvious. With the solutionized temperature increasing from 400 °C to 600 °C, the size of Al4Sr phases reduces gradually, and the morphology of Al4Sr phases evolves from coarse block shape to fine block and flake shapes. Comparing with the commercial Al–10Sr master alloy, the solutionized Al–10Sr master alloys exhibit higher refinement efficiency to AZ31 magnesium alloy, and the refinement efficiency increases with the solutionized temperature increasing from 400 °C to 600 °C. The mechanism might be related to the dissolution rates of Al4Sr phases in the melt of AZ31 magnesium alloy.