Effects of various Mg-Sr master alloys on microstructural refinement of ZK60 magnesium alloy

The effects of various Mg-Sr master alloys (conventional as-cast, rapidly-solidified, rolled and solutionized) on microstructural refinement of ZK60 magnesium alloy were investigated. The results indicate that the refinement efficiency of various Mg-Sr master alloys in ZK60 alloy is different. The rolled Mg-Sr master alloy is found to have relatively higher refinement efficiency than the conventional as-cast, solutionized and rapidly-solidified Mg-Sr master alloys. After being treated with the rolled Mg-Sr master alloy, the ZK60 alloy obtains the minimum average grain size of 33 μm. The difference of various Mg-Sr master alloys in refinement efficiency might be related to the initial microstructure change of various Mg-Sr master alloys.