Effect of precipitates on thermal conductivity of aged Mg-5Sn alloy

Abstract

The influence of precipitates on thermal conductivity of aged Mg-5Sn alloy has been investigated at different heat treatment temperatures. The results show that the thermal conductivity of aged Mg-5Sn alloy increases from 87.5 to 92.8 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at 433 K for 720 h and from 87.5 to 122 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at 513 K for 120 h with the increasing ageing time. The increasing rate of the former is obviously lower than that of the latter. Meanwhile, the Sn content of precipitates at 433 K is considerably below that of aged Mg-5Sn at 513 K. The interface between precipitates and α-Mg matrix is completely coherent at 433 K for 720 h. The increase in thermal conductivity is mainly attributed to the remaining Sn solutes in α-Mg matrix, and the interface relationship between precipitates and α-Mg matrix.

Keywords:

• Magnesium alloys
• Mg-5Sn alloy
• precipitates
• thermal properties
• interfaces