CA1074157A - Magnesium alloys - Google Patents

Magnesium alloys

Info

Publication number
CA1074157A
CA1074157A CA267,889A CA267889A CA1074157A CA 1074157 A CA1074157 A CA 1074157A CA 267889 A CA267889 A CA 267889A CA 1074157 A CA1074157 A CA 1074157A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
alloy
weight
earth metals
article
magnesium
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA267,889A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
William Unsworth
John F. King
Stephen L. Bradshaw
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Magnesium Elektron Ltd
Original Assignee
Magnesium Elektron Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Magnesium Elektron Ltd filed Critical Magnesium Elektron Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1074157A publication Critical patent/CA1074157A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22CALLOYS
    • C22C23/00Alloys based on magnesium

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A magnesium-based alloy for casting contains at least 88% magnesium, 1.6-3.5% silver, 0.1-2.3% of rare earth metals comprising at least 60% neodymium, 0-2.3% thorium and 0.1-2.5%
yttrium. When no more than 0.5% of yttrium is present the mini-mum amount of thorium is given by the equation [Th] = .

Other elements may be present to improve the alloy properties.
Alloys of these compositions have advantagous mechanical properties such as resistance to creep at elevated temperatures.

Description

7~57 This invention relates to magnesium-based alloys.
Magnesium alloys find numerous applications where light weight is essential, especially in aerospace technology.
Magnesium alloys are known having good mechanical properties, particularly high yield strength, which are well maintained at elevated temperatures. Such alloys contain silver - usually
2-3% by weight - and neodymium, which may be added in the form of a mixture of rare earth metal.
Known alloys which contain silver, neodymium and thorium, and optionally, yttrium; the yttrium is believed to improve the stability of the alloys' tensile properties at high temperatures (of the order of 250C) and also the resistance to creep. These alloys, containing yttrium and thorium, contain at least 3% of yttrium by weight. Yttrium is an expensive material.
It has now been found that alloys suitable for casting having advantageous mechanical properties such as resistance to creep at elevated temperatures can be obtained by the addition of smaller quantities of yttrium to magnesium alloys containing silver and neodymium. ~en the yttrium content is less than 0.5% by weight thorium should be present also.
~ccording to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a magnesium-based alloy containing by weight (other than iron and other impurities):

"~
,:

. ~

~Lq;i74:~57 - Mg at least 88%
Ag 1.6 - 3.5 %
Rare earth metals 0.1 - 2.3 %
of which at least 60% is neodymium Th 0 - 2.3 %
Y 0.1 - 2.5 %
Zn 0 _ 0 05 %
Cd 0 - 1.0 %
Li 0 - 6.0 %
Ca 0 - 0.8 %
Ga 0 - 2.0 %
In 0 - 2.0 %
Tl 0 5 0 Pb 0 - 1.0 %
Bi 0 - 1.0 %
Cu 0 - 0.15%
Zr 0 - 1.0 %
Mn 0 - 2'.0% :`~
the amount of rare earth metals and Th together not exceeding 3.0% and when no more than 0.5% of Y is present the minimum amount of Th is defined by the equation [Th] - ~ .
4 ~ ] where [Th] and [Y] are the amounts % of Th and Y
respectively. : -The minimum quantity of thorium is such that it may .
be nil at yttrium contents of 0.5% or above and increases :
linearly to a value of 0.1% at the minimum yttrium content of 0.1% in accordance with the above equation.
It should be noted that yttrium is not classed as a ;.~;. . .

~ :

::
- 3 -1~74~5~

rare earth metal.
According to one embodiment, when less than 1% of yttrium is present the minimum amount of thorium is defined by the equation:
[Th] = 4 5 In this embodiment the minimum quantity of thorium is nil at yttrium contents of 1% or above and increases linearly to a value of 0.2% at the minimum yttrium content of 0.1%.
The rare earth metals preferably comprise at least 75% by weight of neodymium. They preferably contain not more than 15% of cerium and lanthanum taken together, most preferably not more than 3%, as these elements may have a deleterious effect on the mechanical properties of the alloy. Cerium and lanthanum may with advantage be substantially absent.
zirconium may be present in an amount of up to 1.0%, preferably at least 0. 46, for grain refining purposes. Up to 2.0% of manganese may also be present, but the maximum amount of zirconium and manganese together is limited by -their mutual solubility.
Other elements soluble in magnesium may be present ~ -provided that they do not, by forming compounds, interfere with hardening treatment or depress the melting point sufficiently to prevent dissolution of the rare earth metals on heat treatment. These elements include:
Zinc 0 - 0.5 -6 Cadmium 0 - 1.0 %
Lithium 0 - 6.0 ~ -
- 4 -- . - ' 4~57 1 Calcium 0 - 0.8 %
Gallium 0 - 2.0 ~
Indium 0 - 2.0 %
Thallium 0 - 5.0 %
Lead 0 - 1.0 Bismuth 0 - 1.0 ~
Copper 0 - 0.15%
To obtain optimum mechanical properties the silver content is preferably 2-3%.
Heat treatment is normally required to obtain optimum mechanical properties in the cast alloy. The heat treatment generally comprises solution heat treatment at an elevated temperature followed by quenching and ageing to achieve precipitation hardening. Solution treatment may be carried out at a temperature ~rom 485C to the solidus of the alloy and ageing at from 100C to 275C.
Typical conditions are solution treatment at about 525C
for about 8 hours and ageing at about 200C for 16 hours.
If the alloy contains above 0.1% Cu the high-temperature treatment should be preceded by treatment at a temperature not exceeding 485C, for example 465C, to avoid incipient melting.
Alloys according to the invention will be described in the following Examples.
Example Alloys having the compositions shown in the Table were ~
prepared: alloys 1, 2 and 3 are comparative examples. ~ -The silver was added as pure silver or a silver/ -magnesium alloy. The rare earth metals were added as a
- 5 -- . - - : .- - . - -: ,. . . . .

~41~'7 1 "mischmetal" or a magnesium/rare earth hardener alloy; in either case at least 60% by weight of the rare earth metal is neodymium and not more than 3% is lanthanum plus cerium. The thorium was added as a magnesium/thorium alloy or as pure thorium. Zirconium was added as magnesium/zirconium hardener or introduced via a reducible zirconium halide. Yttrium was added as pure yttrium or as a magnesium yttrium hardener alloy.
The case specimens were heat treated at 525%C for 8 hours following by quenching and ageing for 16 hours at 200C.
The yield, and ultimate tensile strengths and ~ -~
elongation were measured at 250C according to British Standard 3688. The creep at 250C was measured by the method of British Standard 3500 part 3. The room temperature mechanical properties were measured in accordance with British Standard 18. The results are shown in the Table.

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h ~ l l O O O O O r-l N ~ C~ ~1 N
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~r Z Ci ~i C~3 C~ r-l O ~1 O O ~ i O O 1_l . - .- .
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~ C~ ~ ~ t~ . ~ N N ~ N ~- --. N N N . -.
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Ei r-l C~l ~ ;tl 15~ ~D 1~ 0 ~ N --I
_ X _ _ _ _ _ _ ~7~

' '" ' .'- .: ' ' . ' . ' . , , ' ' ' , - ' ' , - , ' " ' 1~74~57 _ c~
Jl rl E o o~
e Z; ..

~ I !

n , .

- . - .. . . - . - .. .

.

1~;37~L~S7 It can be ~een that whereaQ a~ldition of yttrium gave virtually no adverse effect on the ten.~ile properties of the alloy it gave a notable improvement in rssi~tance to creep.
It can be seen from Alloy 3,;that the creep properties of the alloy cont&ining lesq thanØ5~ yttrium and no thorium were worqe than for ~imilar alloy~ containin~
thorium and yttrium.
The following ganeralisations may be made regarding alloys having compositions according to the invention:
~a) The addition of rela*iYely ~mall amounts of yttrium to magne~ium alloy~ containing silver, neodymium and thorium i~ beneficial in raising creep resistance at elevated temperatures, (b) Good mechanical properties at elevated temperature.~ may be obtained with alloys containing yttrium plus thorium or at least 0.5 yttrium. ~~
The yttrium may be added to the alloy~ of the invention a~ pure yttrium~ but it may al~o be added at lower C09t in the form of a mixture of yttrium and rare earth metals containing at lea~t 60%~ preferably at least 65%, of yttrium.

- : , - . , ::: . , . - - . . . - : .

Claims (13)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OF PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A magnesium-based alloy containing by weight (other than iron and other impurities):

and the balance of the composition being magnesium, the amount of rate earth metals and Th together not exceeding 3.0% and when no more than 0.5% of Y is present the minimum amount of Th is defined by the equation [Th] = where [Th] and [Y] are the amounts % of Th and Y respectively, the maximum contents of Zr and Mn together being limited by their mutual solubility.
2. An alloy according to claim 1, in which the rare earth metals comprise at least 75% by weight of neodymium.
3. An alloy according to claim 1, in which the rare earth metals comprise not more than 15% by weight of lanthanum plus cerium.
4. An alloy according to claim 3, in which the rare earth metals comprise not more than 3% by weight of lanthanum plus cerium.
5. An alloy according to claim 4, in which the rare earth metals comprise substantially no lanthanum or cerium.
6. An alloy according to claims 1, 2 or 3, in which the minimum amount of thorium is defined by the equation [Th] = when less than 1% of yttrium is present.
7. An alloy according to claims 1, 2 or 3, which contains at least 0.4% by weight of zirconium.
8. An alloy according to claims 1, 2 or 3, which contains from 2 to 3% by weight of silver.
9. An alloy according to claims 1, 2 or 3 when heat treated.
10. A method for making a heat treated metal article from a magnesium based alloy containing by weight (other than iron and other impurities):

and the balance of the composition being magnesium, the amount of rare earth metals and Th together not exceeding 3.0% and when no more than 0.5% of Y is present the minimum amount of Th is defined by the equation [Th] = when [Th] and [Y]

are the amounts % of Th and Y respectively, the maximum contents of Zr and Mn together being limited by their mutual solubility, the method comprising forming the alloy, subjecting the article to solution heat treatment at a temperature from 485°C to the solidus of the alloy, quenching the article and ageing the article at a temperature from 100°C to 275°C.
11. A method according to claim 10, in which the article is solution heat treated at a temperature of about 525°C for about 8 hours.
12. A method according to claim 10, in which the alloy contains over 0.1% by weight of copper and the article is solution heat treated at a temperature not exceeding 485°C followed by solution heat treatment at a higher temperature.
13. A method according to claims 10, 11 or 12, in which the article is aged at a temperature of about 200°C for a period of about 16 hours.
CA267,889A 1975-12-17 1976-12-14 Magnesium alloys Expired CA1074157A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB51612/75A GB1527877A (en) 1975-12-17 1975-12-17 Magnesium alloys

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1074157A true CA1074157A (en) 1980-03-25

Family

ID=10460710

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA267,889A Expired CA1074157A (en) 1975-12-17 1976-12-14 Magnesium alloys

Country Status (14)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS6024169B2 (en)
AU (1) AU499747B2 (en)
BE (1) BE849514A (en)
CA (1) CA1074157A (en)
DE (1) DE2657091C2 (en)
FR (1) FR2335610A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1527877A (en)
IL (1) IL51115A (en)
IN (1) IN156415B (en)
IT (1) IT1065388B (en)
NL (1) NL7614027A (en)
NO (1) NO764228L (en)
SE (1) SE432785B (en)
ZA (1) ZA767449B (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU544762B2 (en) * 1981-03-25 1985-06-13 Luxfer Group Limited Magnesium base rare earth alloy
JPH0273681U (en) * 1988-11-26 1990-06-05
KR100385132B1 (en) * 1998-02-27 2003-08-14 신광선 METHOD FOR IMPROVING STRENGTH OF Mg-Zn ALLOY
AUPS311202A0 (en) * 2002-06-21 2002-07-18 Cast Centre Pty Ltd Creep resistant magnesium alloy
CN107326237B (en) * 2016-03-18 2018-10-23 南阳师范学院 A kind of magnesium alloy and preparation method thereof of low temperature resistant environment
RU2615935C1 (en) * 2016-06-16 2017-04-11 Юлия Алексеевна Щепочкина Alloy on base of magnesium

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1224532A (en) * 1958-05-16 1960-06-24 Magnesium Elektron Ltd Improvements to magnesium alloys

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2657091A1 (en) 1977-06-30
GB1527877A (en) 1978-10-11
JPS6024169B2 (en) 1985-06-11
NL7614027A (en) 1977-06-21
FR2335610B1 (en) 1980-03-28
IN156415B (en) 1985-07-27
BE849514A (en) 1977-04-15
AU499747B2 (en) 1979-05-03
IL51115A0 (en) 1977-02-28
FR2335610A1 (en) 1977-07-15
IL51115A (en) 1979-10-31
SE432785B (en) 1984-04-16
AU2064276A (en) 1978-06-22
DE2657091C2 (en) 1985-11-21
NO764228L (en) 1977-06-20
JPS52101615A (en) 1977-08-25
SE7614156L (en) 1977-06-18
ZA767449B (en) 1977-11-30
IT1065388B (en) 1985-02-25

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