The Effect of Ce and Nd Addition on Dry/Corrosive Wear Behavior of Newly Developed EZ43 Grade Mg Alloys

Abstract

This study is concerned with the production of EZ43A and EZ43B alloys by induction melting/casting method and their microstructure, mechanical, and dry/corrosive wear properties. The investigated EZ43A and EZ43B alloys were alloyed with 1 % Ce – 2 % Nd and 2 % Ce – 1 % Nd, respectively. According to the XRD results, ternary Mg0.97Zn0.03/Mg41Nd5/Mg3Gd eutectic phases were present in the microstructure of EZ43A alloy, while quaternary Mg0.97Zn0.03/Mg41Nd5/Mg3Gd/Mg17Ce2 eutectic phase was formed in the microstructure of EZ43B alloy. The hardness increased from 60.41 to 63.34 by increasing Ce from 1 % to 2 %, representing a 5 % improvement in hardness. As the Ce/Nd ratio increased, the yield/tensile strength and modulus of elasticity increased by 2 %, 6 %, and 3 %, respectively. With the increase in Ce, the relative dry wear loss of EZ43A was 1.00, while that of EZ43B was 0.93, and the corrosive relative wear loss of EZ43A was 2.44 and that of EZ43B was 1.56. Accordingly, the dry and corrosive wear resistance of EZ43B increased by 7 % and 36 %, respectively, compared to that of EZ43A.