Aluminium-magnesium-zinc casting alloy is not included in the Japanese Industrial Standard but a little addition of zinc to aluminium-magnesium alloy somewhat improves the mechanical properties and fluidity. (Alcoa A214, NF A-G4Z)
From this standpoint, the authors made some experiments on this alloy.
The specimens being prepared, zinc was added in solid state and process was practically same as that to make the aluminium-5 per cent magnesium alloy. The chemical compositions (added composition) of the specimens are as follows:
Mg: 4.0, 5.0%, Zn: 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0%
Fe: 0, 0.2, 0.4%, Mn: 0, 0.4% Si: Not added
In 4 per cent magnesium alloys, tensile, yield strength and hardness increase as the amount of zinc increases but when 2.0-2.5 per cent zinc is added the tensile strength, hardness, elongation decrease sharply but yield strength does not. Similar behavior is observed in 5 per cent magnesium, less zinc alloys.
Under the corrosion test of 4 per cent magnesium alloys in sodium chrolide aqueous solution, weight loss is not critical when zinc content is less than 2 per cent. However, in case of 5 per cent magnesium, this point is decreased to 1.5 per cent zinc. The addition of manganese improves the corrosion properties remarkably, and addition of iron gives the same effect.
When submerged into city water, weight change is less than that in case of sodium chloride aqueous solution. But, the pitting type corrosion is appeared and manganese is not very effective for this.
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