Effects of Mg content on hydrogen content and melt quality of Al-Mg alloys

Abstract

In Al-Mg alloys with Mg content 0 ≤ XMg ≤ 6 wt. %, the effects of XMg on dissolved hydrogen content ([H]) and melt quality were investigated. [H] was measured using the Closed-Loop Recirculation method, and the melt quality was quantified using the density index (DI), bifilm index (BI), and porosity measurement. [H] in the molten alloys increased with increasing XMg and melt temperature TMelt; these trends agree with theoretical calculations for hydrogen solubility. The tendency of melt quality vs XMg was similar in DI, BI, and porosity measurements, and the poorest melt quality was observed in the Al-4Mg alloy that had XMg = 4 wt. %, whereas the highest [H] was obtained in the Al-6Mg alloy melt that had XMg = 6 wt. % Mg. During thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, rapid oxidation occurred in the Al-4Mg alloy melt during the holding time between 45 and 60 min at 800 °C., i.e., just before the molten metal was cast. The inferior melt quality of Al-4Mg alloy may have been caused by high-temperature oxidation.