Influence of Mg Content on the Metallurgical, Hardness, and Tensile Behaviour of Zn-Al-Si-Mg Alloy in the As-Cast Condition

In this current article, an effort was made to briefly study the impact of magnesium content on the mechanical and metallurgical performance of as-cast Zn-Al-Si-Mg alloy. Zinc, aluminium, and silicon of appropriate weight quantities were melted in an electric furnace, and magnesium of varying quantities (1-5wt%) was added to the melt to obtain rectangular cast specimens. Microstructural, hardness and mechanical property analysis was conducted for the developed alloy in the as-cast condition. It was noted that an addition of Mg to the Zn matrix refines the grains but more than 3wt-% of Mg to the matrix forms clusters which deteriorate the property of the alloy in the as-cast condition. The value of hardness and tensile strength were noted to enhance, and ductility was observed to decrease from the baseline alloy to the alloy with 3wt% of Mg. Further addition of Mg decreased the properties of the alloy.