Effect of Al additions on grain refinement and mechanical properties of Mg-Sm alloys

The effect of Al additions on grain refinement and mechanical properties of Mg-Sm alloys has been investigated. The addition of 3 wt.% Al led to significant grain refinement of Mg-xSm (x = 4, 6 and 8 wt.%) alloys due to the formation of Al2Sm particles which acted as active nucleant particles for the Mg matrix. An orientation relationship ((1) over bar 11)(Al2Sm)//(0002)(Mg), [(1) over bar(2) over bar1](Al2Sm)//[11 (2) over bar0](Mg), [0 (1) over bar1](Al2Sm)//[01 (1) over bar0](Mg) was reproducibly observed between alpha-Mg and Al2Sm. Furthermore, the Mg-4Sm alloy refined by Al additions had higher ultimate tensile strength and elongation than that refined by Zr which is considered as the most potent grain refiner for Mg alloys. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.