In this study, changes in the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast and extruded Al-2Li-1Ce alloy materials were investigated as the Mg content was varied. The density decreased to 2.485, 2.46 and 2.435 g/cm3 when the Mg content in the Al-2Li-1Ce alloy was increased to 2, 4 and 6 wt%, respectively. Intermetallic compounds of Al11Ce3 were observed in all alloys, while the β-phase of Al3Mg2 was observed in alloys containing 6 wt% of Mg. In the extruded material, with increasing Mg content the average grain size decreased to 84.8, 71.6 and 36.2 μm, and the fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (greater than 15°) increased to 82.8 %, 88.6 %, and 91.8 %, respectively. This occurred because the increased Mg content promotes dynamic recrystallization during hot extrusion. Tensile test results showed that as the Mg content increased, both the yield strength and tensile strength increased. The yield strength reached 86.1, 107.3, and 186.4 MPa, and the tensile strength reached 215.2, 285, and 360.5 MPa, respectively. However, it is worth noting that the ductility decreased to 27.78 %, 25.65 %, and 20.72 % as the Mg content increased. This reduction in ductility is attributed to the strengthening effect resulting from the increased amount of dissolved Mg, and grain refinement due to dynamic recrystallization.

This research investigated how adding Sb (0.75, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 wt%) to as-extruded aluminum alloys affected their microstructure, mechanical properties, electric and thermal conductivity. The addition of Sb resulted in the formation of AlSb intermetallic compounds. It was observed that intermetallic compounds in the alloys were distributed homogenously in the Al matrix. As the content of Sb increased, the area fraction of intermetallic compounds increased. It can be clearly seen that the intermetallic compounds were crushed into fine particles and homogenously arrayed during the extrusion process. As the Sb content increased, the average grain size decreased remarkably from 282.6 μm (0.75 wt%) to 109.2 μm (5.0 wt%) due to dynamic recrystallization by the dispersed intermetallic compounds in the aluminum matrix during the hot extrusion. As the Sb content increased from 0.75 to 2.0 wt%, the electrical conductivity decreased from 61.0 to 59.8 % of the International Annealed Copper Standard. Also, as the Sb content increased from 0.75 to 2.0 wt%, the ultimate tensile strength did not significantly change, from 67.3 to 67.8 MPa.

Aluminum-based powders have attracted attention as key materials for 3D printing owing to their low density, high specific strength, high corrosion resistance, and formability. This study describes the effects of TiC addition on the microstructure of the A6013 alloy. The alloy powder was successfully prepared by gas atomization and further densified using an extrusion process. We have carried out energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to investigate the effect of TiC addition on the microstructure and texture evolution of the A6013 alloy. The atomized A6013-xTiC alloy powder is fine and spherical, with an initial powder size distribution of approximately 73 μm which decreases to 12.5, 13.9, 10.8, and 10.0 μm with increments in the amount of TiC.

The powder manufacturing process using the gas atomizer process is easy for mass production, has a fine powder particle size, and has excellent mechanical properties compared to the existing casting process, so it can be applied to various industries such as automobiles, electronic devices, aviation, and 3D printers. In this study, a modified A4032-xSn (x = 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt.%) alloy with low melting point properties is investigated. After maintaining an argon (Ar) gas atmosphere, the main crucible is tilted; containing molten metal at 1,000℃ by melting the master alloy at a high frequency, and Ar gas is sprayed at 10 bar gas pressure after the molten metal inflow to the tundish crucible, which is maintained at 800℃. The manufactured powder is measured using a particle size analyzer, and FESEM is used to observe the shape and surface of the alloy powder. DSC is performed to investigate the change in shape, according to the melting point and temperature change. The microstructure of added tin (Sn) was observed by heat treatment at 575℃ for 10 min. As the content of Sn increased, the volume fraction increased to 1.1, 3.1, 6.4, and 10.9%.

A cold roll-bonding process was applied to fabricate an AA1050/AA6061/AA1050 laminate complex sheet. Two AA1050 and one AA6061 sheets of 2 mm thickness, 40 mm width and 300 mm length were stacked up after surface treatment that included degreasing and wire brushing; material was then reduced to a thickness of 3 mm by one-pass cold rolling. The laminate sheet bonded by the rolling was further reduced to 1.2 mm in thickness by conventional rolling. The rolling was performed at ambient temperature without lubricant using a 2-high mill with a roll diameter of 210 mm. The rolling speed was 5.0 m/sec. The AA1050/AA6061/AA1050 laminate complex sheet fabricated by roll bonding was then hardened by natural aging T4) and artificial aging (T6) treatments. The microstructures of the as-roll bonded and the age hardened Al complex sheets were revealed by optical microscope observation; the mechanical properties were investigated by tensile testing and hardness testing. The strength of the as-roll bonded complex sheet was found to increase by 2.9 times compared to that value of the starting material. In addition, the hardness of the complex sheets increased with cold rolling for AA1050 and age-hardening treatment for AA6061, respectively. After heat treatment, both AA1050 and AA6061 showed typical recrystallization structures in which the grains were equiaxed; however, the grain size was smaller in AA6061 than in AA1050.

A roll-bonding process was applied to fabricate an AA1050/AZ91/AA1050 laminate complex sheet. Two AA1050 and one AZ91 magnesium sheets of 2 mm thickness, 30 mm width and 200 mm length were stacked up after surface treatment that included degreasing and wire brushing; material was then reduced to a thickness of 3 mm by one-pass cold rolling. The laminate sheet bonded by the rolling was further reduced to 2 mm in thickness by conventional rolling. The rolling was performed at 623K without lubricant using a 2-high mill with a roll diameter of 210 mm. The rolling speed was 15.9 m/min. The AA1050/AZ91/AA1050 laminate complex sheet fabricated by roll bonding was then annealed at 373~573K for 0.5h. The microstructure of the complex sheets was revealed by electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) measurement; the mechanical properties were investigated by tensile testing and hardness testing. The strength of the complex sheet was found to increase by 11 % and the tensile elongation decreased by 7%, compared to those values of the starting material. In addition, the hardness of the AZ91 Mg region was slightly higher than those of the AA1050 regions. Both AA1050 and AZ91 showed a typical deformation structure in which the grains were elongated in the

The effect of adding Ca on the microstructural and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-11Li-3Zn-1Sn(wt%) alloys were investigated. Mg-11Li-3Zn-1Sn-0.4Mn with different Ca additions (0.4, 0.8, 1.2 wt%) were cast under an SF6 and Co2 atmosphere at 720 oC. The cast billets were homogenized at 400 oC for 12h and extruded at 200 oC. The microstructural and mechanical properties were analyzed by OM, XRD, SEM, and tensile tests. The addition of Ca to the Mg-11Li-3Zn-1Sn-0.4Mn alloy resulted in the formation of Ca2Mg6Zn3, MgSnCa intermetallic compound. By increasing Ca addition, the volume fraction and size of Ca2Mg6Zn3 with needle shape were increased. This Ca2Mg6Zn3 intermetallic compound was elongated to the extrusion direction and refined to fine particles due to severe deformation during hot extrusion. The elongation of the 0.8 wt% Ca containing alloy improved remarkably without reduction strength due to the formation of fine grain and Ca2Mg6Zn3 intermetallic compounds by Ca addition. It is probable that fine and homogeneous Ca2Mg6Zn3 intermetallic compounds played a significant role in the increase of mechanical properties.

In this research, magnesium powder was prepared by gas atomizing. Refinement behaviors of magnesium powder produced under different conditions were investigated using a mechanical milling (attrition milling) process. Analyses were performed to assess the characterization and comparison of milled powder with different steel ball sizes and milling times. The powders were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope, apparent density and powder fluidity. The particle morphology of the Mg powders changed from spherical particles of feed metals to irregular oval particles, then plate type particles, with an increasing milling time. Because of the HCP structure, deformation occurs due to the existence of the easily breakable C-axis perpendicular to the base, which results in producing plate-type powders. An increase in ball size and the impact energy of the magnesium powder maximizes the effect of refinement. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the apparent density and fluidity according to the smoothness of the surface of the initial powder.