The effect of Sn addition on aging behavior and mechanical properties of wrought AZ80 magnesium alloy

Highlights: • Thermodynamic and precipitation kinetics calculation was used to analyze aging hardening after addition of Sn. • Precipitation sequences were determined by the content of Sn element. • The microstructure of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ discontinuous precipitates were influenced by Mg₂Sn precipitates. - Abstract: The microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ80 wrought magnesium alloys with varying Sn contents (0, 1, 2 and 4 wt.%) have been studied by thermodynamic and precipitation kinetics calculation and examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), hardness test and uniaxial tensile test at room temperature in this paper. The results of thermodynamic and precipitation kinetics calculation showed that the precipitation sequences were determined by the content of Sn element. It was found that in the aging treatment of this work, Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase precipitated sooner than Mg₂Sn phase in the alloys with less than 1.72 wt.% Sn and there was a contrary precipitation sequence of these two phases in the alloys with more than 1.72 wt.% Sn. Experimental results were in agreement with those of calculation. According to SEM and TEM observation, Sn promoted precipitation of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ on aging temperature, however the preferential Mg₂Sn phase suppressed discontinuous Mg₁₇Al₁₂ precipitates by hindering the growth of these in their growth direction. AZ80 with 1–2 wt.% Sn as-aged alloys exhibited outstanding mechanical property that UTS, YS and EL were ∼420 MPa, ∼290 MPa and ∼5%, respectively