AZ91 magnesium alloys containing 0.27-5.22 wt.% Ca, were melted and cast to study the effects of Ca addition on oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures. An ignition temperature test showed that the ignition of AZ91 alloy occurred at about 350-450°C below the melting point, whereas that of the Ca-containing AZ91 alloys did so at above 650°C. Weight gain measurements indicated that the oxidation resistance of the AZ91 alloys improved with Ca addition. The oxidation rate was dependent on the oxidation temperature. In the temperature range of 300-400°C, the oxidation rate increased linearly. By contrast, the weight of 5 wt.% Ca-containing AZ91 alloy increased slowly due to the formation of a protective oxide layer. The oxidized surfaces were analyzed with low-angle XRD, FE-SEM equipped with EDS and AES. Complex structures were found in the oxide layers of the Ca-containing alloys: the outer layer mainly consisted of CaO, which was of uniform thickness, and the inner layer was a mixture of CaO, MgO, and Al 2 O 3 . In contrast to the loose and porous MgO formed on the surface of AZ91, the compact and dense oxide layers acted as an effective barrier to the further oxidation of the Ca-containing AZ91 alloys.
Beryllium was added to Mg-Ca alloys to study their ignition-proof properties. The ignition temperatures of Mg-2Ca alloys were increased dramatically with increasing Be addition. Thermogravimetric measurement revealed that the oxidation of Mg-2Ca alloys was slowed down by Be addition. After elevated temperature exposure to air, the Mg-2Ca alloy was partially ignited, while the surface of Be-containing alloys was smooth without any partial ignition. SEM, low-angle XRD, and AES observations indicated that the surface of Becontaining alloys became compact and dense, and the oxide film formed at elevated temperature mainly consisted of CaO together with MgO and BeO. It was found that the CaO enriched oxide layer acted as an impermeable barrier to the inward diffusion of oxygen and thus further oxidation was prevented.
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