Effect of Aluminum, Manganese, and Zirconium on the Content of Nickel in Molten Magnesium

Variations of nickel contents and microstructures in molten magnesium alloys on the addition of aluminum, zirconium, and manganese have been investigated. Specimens were prepared by melting under and atmosphere and casting into a disc of 29 mm diameter with 7~10 mm thickness from the melt acquired at the top of crucible. Before casting, the molten metal was stirred for 3 minutes after each addition of alloying elements and maintained for 30 minutes for settling down. Results showed that zirconium did not significantly affect the content of nickel while aluminum remarkably reduced it by forming phase. When manganese are added to Mg-1wt%Ni alloy along with aluminum, both elements remarkably reduced the content of nickel. The addition of 1.5 wt% manganese to Mg-1wt%Ni alloy containing aluminum further reduced the content of nickel by more than 30%, during which an additional intermetallic phase was precipitated in the molten magnesium.