Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of MA2-1 Alloy Sheet

Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of high purity MA2-1(Mg-5wt.%Al-1wt.%Zn-0.4wt.%Mn) alloy sheet were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the microstructure of high purity MA2-1 alloy sheet annealed consisted of α-Mg solid solution, β (Mg17Al12) phase and Al-Mn phases such as Al6Mn and Al10Mn3. β phase dissolved into α-Mg solid solution during the solution treatment and formed supersaturated α-Mg solid solution. After aging at the temperatures of 423 K, 473 K and 523 K for 12 hours, β phase precipitated from the supersaturated α-Mg solid solution. Optical microscope observation found that the grain size of the MA2-1 alloy sheet became larger after heat treatment. As a result, the mechanical properties of the MA2-1 alloy sheet such as the tensile strength and yield strength declined after the heat treatment.