MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HIGH PRESSURE DIE CAST AM50 MAGNESIUM ALLOY CONTAINING Ce

Over the past decades, the necessity to decrease the weight of automobile parts has created a considerable interest in magnesium alloys. The need to develop magnesium die casting alloys for car components motivates R&D in high temperature magnesium alloy development. In order to improve magnesium alloys with low cost, high strength and with notable elevated temperature properties, the effect of Ce addition (0.5/1.0 wt.-%) on microstructure and mechanical properties of AM50 was studied. Results show that addition of Ce to AM50 resulted in grain refinement and the formation of the secondary phase Al11Ce3. Mechanical properties of investigated alloys at both room and elevated temperature were remarkably increased. AM50 containing 1%wt. Ce showed relatively better refinement and mechanical properties compared to AM50 with 0.5% wt. Ce.