Partial Remelting of Thixotropic Magnesium-Rare Earth Alloy from Near Non- Equilibrium- Liquidus Casting

After the investigation on partial remelting of thixotropic magnesium serial alloys （ZK60） by near non-equilibrium liquidus casting （NNLC）, the primary solid grains of ZK60-2Ca alloy spheroidized notably during partial remelting processing, however, coarsening and polygonization as occurred holding time prolonged. The refining and globularity of the thixotropic alloys are promoted after further alloyed by Y, RE, Nd and/or Ag, and the results vary with those addition. The remelting structure of ZK60-2Ca-1Y alloy is finer than its base alloy. And the effect of RE, especially Ag, on the refinement of microstrueture is notable, but Nd does nothing on it. There is little impact of remelting temperature fluctuation on partial remelted microstrueture as holding time in general. On the contrary, it is more sensitive at longer holding time. The quality thixotropic silver-contained alloy can be achieved by remelted partially at 600℃ for 10 min.