High Temperature Oxidation Behavior of Mg-6%Al-1%Zn-1%CaO Alloys

The magnesium-base AZ61 alloy was cast while adding 1% CaO powder into the melt. It was hot extruded, and oxidized at $550-650^{\circ}C$ in air in order to study its microstructure and oxidation behavior. Initially added CaO powder reacted with Al in the melt to $Al_2Ca$ particles that aligned along the extrusion direction. The formed $Al_2Ca$ particles increased the oxidation resistance through forming the superficial CaO scale at the upper part of the thin MgO oxide scale.