Characterization of cast Mg–Li–Ca alloys

Microstructural characterization of Mg-12Li-xCa alloys (x=0−15 wt.%) was performed via a combination of several analytical techniques. The addition of Ca to a Mg-12Li alloy resulted in as-cast microstructure with a primary dendrites of β-(Mg, Li), a solid solution of Mg in bcc Li, and a lamellar interdendritic eutectic of the β-phase and CaMg2. The amount of the eutectic in cast Mg-12Li-xCa alloys corresponded to the Ca content. Cold-rolling the alloys re-distributed the micro-constituents. Surface oxidation was shown to preferentially occur on the β-phase.