Prediction of occurrence of solidification cracking of heat-resistant magnesium alloys during die-casting

Abstract

This study was performed to develop the predicting method of solidification cracking during die-casting of tentative heat-resistant magnesium alloys and commercial ones such as Mg–Al–Ca–RE, Mg–Al–Ca–Mn, Mg–Al–Ca–Sn, AE44 and AZ91D. Both high temperature ductility curve and strain near cracking area of each alloy at liquidus-solidus temperature range were required in order to predict the solidification cracking. High temperature strain was calculated by a casting simulation code,“ProCAST”. High temperature ductility curve of each alloy was measured by the experiment. Comparing with this high temperature strain and ductility at liquidus and solidus temperature range, it was confirmed whether solidification cracking occurs or not in each magnesium alloy. Finally, this predicting method was verified using simple shape of die-casting. Consequently, occurrence of solidification cracking in the simple shape of die-casting in all magnesium alloys used can be predicted by this predicting method.