Grain size distribution in a complex AM60 magnesium alloy die casting

Presolidified equiaxed dendritic crystals are observed in magnesium cold chamber high pressure die castings. Depending on the rate at which new crystals are formed and to what extent they survive in the shot sleeve, a mixture of liquid and crystals is injected into the die cavity resulting in floating crystals in the casting. Box shaped die castings of the AM60 magnesium alloy have been made with a cold chamber high pressure die casting machine. The resulting microstructure is generally observed to consist of (a) a fine grained structure or (b) a mixture of fine grains and coarse grains which is either centred or dispersed in the through thickness cross-section. The prevalence of structures is observed to vary with position in the casting. Close to the gate a coarse grained microstructure dominates, while fine grains dominate further from the gate. The volume fraction of floating crystals in the casting is shown to depend on the initial superheat of the melt. IJCMR/492