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.

Various kinds of Mg-Zn-Ca base alloys were rapidly quenched via melt spinning process. The meltspun ternary and quaternary alloy ribbons were heat-treated, and then the effects of additional elements on age hardening behavior and phase change of precipitates were investigated using Vickers hardness tester, XRD, and TEM equipped with EDS system. In ternary alloys, age hardening was mostly due to the distribution of and . The stable phases of precipitates were varied according to the aging temperature and the alloy composition. With the increase of Ca content, precipitates were detected more than precipitates. In quaternary alloys, the precipitates taken from Mg-Zn-Ca-Co were identified as new quaternary phase, whereas those taken from Mg-Zn-Ca-Zr as MgZnCa containing Zr. In general, the ternary alloy showed higher peak hardness and thermal stability than the quaternary considering the total amounts of the solutes. It implies that the structure of precipitate should be controlled to have the coherent interface with the Mg matrix.