DSC and Microstructural Investigations of the Elektron 21 Magnesium Alloy

The paper presents the results of DSC and microstructural investigations of Elektron 21 magnesium alloy in as cast condition and after solution hardening. Elektron 21 is a magnesium based casting alloy containing neodymium and gadolinium for used to at 200°C in aerospace application. The solution heat treatment was performed at 520°C/8h/water. Ageing treatment was performed at different temperatures 200, 250, 300 and 350°C, then quenched in air. The microstructure of Elektron 21 in as cast condition consists of primary solid solution α -Mg grains with eutectic α-Mg + Mg3(Nd,Gd) phase and regular precipitates of MgGd3 phase. After DSC investigations three exothermal signals has been observed. First exothermal signal at ~170÷245°C assigned to an undifferentiated formation of the metastable phases β” and β’ and the second one at ~280°C corresponded to the formation of a stable β (Mg3Nd) phase. The last signal at ~300°C was connected to the formation of Mg41Nd5 phase. Regular precipitates of MgGd3 phase have been also observed. TEM investigation confirmed that the Elektron 21 alloy precipitate from the solid solution according to the sequence of the following phases: α–Mgβ”β’β(Mg3Nd)Mg41Nd5