Evaluation of Zn-Mg alloys: Microstructural and mechanical properties under low sintering condition

This study evaluates the microstructural and mechanical properties of Zn-Mg alloys sintered at a temperature of 325°C for two hours. Zn-Mg alloys with varying magnesium (Mg) contents of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% were synthesized, with CaCO3 added as a pore-generating agent to introduce controlled porosity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed pore sizes ranging from 70 to 113 μm, particularly prominent in the 20% Mg sample, which also exhibited a rough surface morphology. The mechanical properties, assessed using Micro Vickers hardness testing, showed a progressive increase in hardness from 18.30 HV to 23.82 HV with increasing Mg content. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of MgZn2 and Mg2Zn11 phases, indicating significant phase development even at this low sintering temperature. The findings suggest that low-temperature sintering can effectively control the microstructural and mechanical properties of Zn-Mg alloys, offering insights that may contribute to their potential as biomaterials.