Effects of RE and Sr additions on dendrite growth and phase precipitation in AZ91D magnesium alloy

To develop AZ91D alloys with fine microstructure, effects of the addition of rare earth (RE), Sr and RE + Sr on the dendrite growth and phase precipitation in AZ91D magnesium alloy were studied, respectively. The results show that the microstructure is refined and the morphology of β-Mg17A112 phase is modified with RE or Sr addition, especially with the RE+Sr composite addition which can reduce the average grain size of AZ91D alloy obviously to 141 μm. The needle-like or block-like new phases adhering to β-Mg17A112 phase form at interdendrites during solidification. The enrichment of RE or/and Sr elements in front of the solidification interface, especially at the tips of α-Mg dendrite, which restricts the growth of α-Mg dendrite, changes the preferential growth of α-Mg and finally results in the grain refinement and the blunting of α-Mg dendrite.