Effects of Si and Zn on Machinability and Wear Resistance of AZ91 and AS91 Magnesium Alloys

Abstract

In this study, the effect of zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) in the industrially very important magnesium alloys AZ91 (9 % Al, 1 % Zn) and AS91 (9 % Al, 1 % Si) has been investigated, with respect to wear resistance and machinability. The hardness of the intermetallic phases found in the microstructure of the alloys AZ91 and AS91 was observed to affect the wear resistance and machinability. It turned out that Mg2Si found in the microstructure of AS91 alloy reduced the machinability while this intermetallic phase increased the hardness and the wear resistance.