Microstructural evolution during solution treatment of thixoformed AM60B Mg alloy

The microstructural evolution and kinetic characteristics were studied during solution treatment of AM60B Mg alloy prepared by thixoforming. The results indicate that the microstructural evolution includes two stages: the first stage involves rapid dissolution of eutectic β (Mg17Al12) phase, homogenization and coarsening, and the second stage is regarded as normal grain growth consisting of primary a-Mg particles (primary particles) and secondary a-Mg grains (secondary grains). In the first stage, the dissolution completes in a quite short time because the fine β phase can quickly dissolve into the small-sized secondary grains. The homogenization of Al element needs relatively long time. Simultaneously, the microstructure morphology and average grain size obviously change. The first stage sustains approximately 1 h when it is solutionized at 395 °C. Comparatively, the second stage needs very long time and the microstructure evolves quite slowly as a result of low Al content gradient and thus low diffusivity of Al element after the homogenization of the first stage. The growth model of primary particles obeys power function while that of the secondary grains follows the traditional growth equation in the first stage. In the second stage, both of the primary particles and secondary grains behave a same model controlled by diffusion along grain boundaries and through crystal lattice.