The effects of chemical composition and heat treatment condition on the mechanical properties of Mg-Th-Zr alloys were investigated. Mg-Th mother alloy containing 10-25% Th prepared with ThF
4 and magnesium was used for thorium addition to the Mg-Th-Zr alloys. The results obtained are as follows:
(1) In case of artificial aging of solution heat treated Mg-3% Th-0.7% Zr alloy, there are two step agehardening at aging temperatures from 180 to 205°C and one step age-hardening above 230°C.
(2) In case of the Mg-3%Th-0.7%Zr alloy, the higher the hardness, the better the mechanical properties at room temperature, from which it seems that both are proportionate.
(3) From a practical viewpoint, Mg-3% Th-0.7% Zr alloy solution heat treated at 565°C, for 2hr and artificial aged in 4hr at 280°C has the highest mechanical properties. It has ultimate tensile strength of 25.0kg/mm
2, tensile yield strength of 12.5kg/mm
2, elongation of 10.5% and hardness (Rockwell F scale) of 60.5.
(4) The elevated temperature mechanical properties above 200°C of Mg-3% Th-0.7% Zr alloy were obviously superior to AZ 63 alloy. It has ultimate tensile strength of 12.9kg/mm
2, tensile yield strength of 8.3 kg/mm
2 and elougation of 21.2% at 300°C as artificial aged for 4hr at 280°C.
(5) The addition of thorium up to 3.0% improves room and elevated temperature mechanical properties and the addition of zirconium up to 0.6% improves only the room temperature mechanical properties.
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