Phase Transformation Kinetics and Alloy Microsegregation in High Pressure Die Cast Magnesium Alloys (Final Report)
The primary objective of this project is to conduct a systematic, quantitative study of phase transformation kinetics and microsegregation in HPDC Mg alloys in both as-cast and heat treated conditions. These results will be used to develop and validate physics-based phase transformation kinetics micro-models that quantitatively capture microstructural evolution and microsegregation during HPDC and heat treatment of Mg alloys. Finally, this knowledge will be transferred to industry and the wider research community through these micro-models and the experimental data that will be stored in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advanced Automotive Cast Magnesium Alloys Repository, as well as a new repository, the University of Michigan Department of Energy Predictive Integrated Structural Materials Science (UM DOE PRISMS) Materials Commons. To accomplish these goals, a systematic and comprehensive experimental study is being combined with computational modeling and simulation.