Effect of Quench Environment on the Conversion Coatings on Magnesium Alloy AZ91

Abstract

The aim of the study is to achieve fine microstructure of AZ91, due to the optimized heat treatment processes, which can be easily coated with a normal conversion process as phosphating. Determination of the influence of the AZ91 microstructure, mainly precipitates which are created using different cooling media during the heat treatment and definition of the best heat treatment process parameters are the main experimental sections of the work. The structure of the samples heat treated under different conditions was subsequently compared with the structure of the as cast state of AZ91. The morphology of the conversion coating was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and amount of individual elements in the deposited coating was determined by EDS analysis.The aim of the study is to achieve fine microstructure of AZ91, due to the optimized heat treatment processes, which can be easily coated with a normal conversion process as phosphating. Determination of the influence of the AZ91 microstructure, mainly precipitates which are created using different cooling media during the heat treatment and definition of the best heat treatment process parameters are the main experimental sections of the work. The structure of the samples heat treated under different conditions was subsequently compared with the structure of the as cast state of AZ91. The morphology of the conversion coating was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and amount of individual elements in the deposited coating was determined by EDS analysis.