it is not mandatory to introduce a separate step of solution heat treating in the fabricating sequence; magnesium silicide stays in solution by quenching (usually by air) immediately after extrusion. This unstable state is maintained until the extrusion is ready for artificial ageing at a suitable tempareture, typically around 200
The mechanism for strengthening has been studied at great length. It was found that:
1. Appreciable strengthening occurs at room temperature over an extended period of time.
2. Zones are formed; short ageing times at around 200 C produce fine needle shaped zones approximately 6 nm (60A) in diameter and 20-100 nm (200-1000 A) in length.
3. Further ageing causes 3-dimensional growth to rod shaped particles with a structure corresponding to a highly ordered magnesium silicide.
4. At higher temperatures, this transition phase, designated P , undergoes diffusionless transformation to the equilibrium MG
5. The normal precipitation sequence may be designated:
Many of problems found in an extruded shape are known to be caused by lack of uniform microstructures present at various step in production cycle. For example, composition needs to be uniform with limits on both wanted and unwanted elements. A fast and uniform freezing pattern during casting would both minimize shell depth (chill or border zone), cell size, cell size variations, constituent size and cold shuts, and also create a finer dendritic arm spacing (DAS).
Composition
Since it is the amount of magnesium silicide and any excess Si That is of interest, it useful to indicate the calculation necessary to obtain these values given the weight percentages of magnesium and silicon.
the chemical reaction is clearly the combination of 2 molecules of Mg with 1 of Si thus giving MG2SI. The atomic weights are Mg=24.305, Si=28.085, Mg2Si=76.695. Thus for an alloy containing 0.4% Mg and 0.38% Si required for the reaction is