Impact Strength of AE-type Alloys High Pressure Die Castings

The results of the Charpy impact test of AE-type magnesium alloys produced by the high pressure die casting method are presented.Three alloys with different weight fractions of rare earth elements (RE; e.g. 1, 3 and 5 wt%) and the same mass fraction of aluminium (5 wt%) were prepared.The casts were fabricated using a typical cold chamber high pressure die casting machine with a 3.8 MN locking force.Microstructural analyses were performed by means of a scanning electron microscope (SEM).The impact strength (IS) was determined using a Charpy V hammer with an impact energy equal to 150 J.The microstructure of the experimental alloys consisted of an -Mg solid solution and Al 11 RE 3 , Al 10 Ce 2 Mn 7 and Al 2 RE intermetallic compounds.The obtained results show the significant influence of the rare earth elements to aluminium ratio on the impact strength of the investigated materials.Lower the RE/Al ratio in the chemical composition of the alloy results in a higher impact strength of the material.