Powder metallurgy Mg-Sn alloys: Production and characterization

In this study, Mg-Sn alloys were produced through the powder metallurgy (P/M) method by adding Sn in different ratios into Mg powder. A new mixing technique has been used in production to prevent the disadvantages of high reactivity that the Mg powders have. The prepared powder mixtures were turned into components by processing through hot pressing. The produced components were characterized by density measurements, microstructure examinations and mechanical tests. The density measurements were made according to the Archimedes principle. The microstructural characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigations and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) analyses. The hardness measurements and the tensile tests were used for the determination of mechanical properties. Densities close to the theoretical density were obtained in the produced parts. XRD and SEM investigations have shown that the components produced are composed of α-Mg and Mg2Sn phases of the microstructure consisting of coaxial grains. The rising Sn content increased the amount of discrete Mg2Sn precipitates at the grain boundaries, thereby ensuring higher hardness and strength values.