Mg-based materials with quasiamorphous phase produced by vertical twin-roll casting process

Abstract

Metallic materials with micron grains, submicron grains, or amorphous structures have attracted great interest in recent decades owing to their excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Compared with traditional forming processes, rapid solidification technology has shown great superiority and potential in the preparation of materials in such structures. In this study, fine-grained quasiamorphous Mg-based alloy strips fabricated by a twin-roll strip casting process were explored using simulation and experimental methods. The concept of critical casting speed was proposed to reflect the optimum casting conditions. The product of critical casting speed and strip thickness was used to evaluate the cooling capacity of the casting system. Based on simulation results, a twin-roll strip-casting experiment was performed on a Mg-rare earth alloy. A novel puddle-like microstructure of the as-cast alloy strip was obtained. Tensile testing results showed that the novel strip exhibited improved ductility.