Cross-sectional geometry and the intermetallics structure in a high pressure die cast Mg-Al alloy

Specimens of rectangular and circular cross section of a Mg-9Al binary alloy have been tensile tested and the cross section of undeformed specimens examined using scanning electron microscopy. The rectangular cross sections showed three scales in the cellular intermetallics network: coarse at the core, fine at the surface and very fine at the corners, whereas the circular ones showed only two, coarse at the core and fine at the surface. The specimens of rectangular cross section exhibited higher yield strength in comparison to the circular ones. Possible reasons for the observed increased strength of the rectangular sections are discussed.