The development and application of a thermodynamic database for magnesium alloys.

The available thermodynamic databases for magnesium alloys are discussed in this paper. Of particular interest are the features of a magnesium database developed by the authors with 19 elements: Mg-Al-Ca-Ce-Cu-Fe-KLa-Li-Mn-Na-Nd-Pr-Si-Sn-Sr-Y-Zn-Zr. Using this database, two applications are presented. One is the phase evolution in AZ61 magnesium alloy including the variations of phase fractions, alloying compositions, and partition coefficients of alloying elements as a function of temperature (or solid fraction). The other is to understand sodium-induced high-temperature embrittlement in the Al-Mg alloy, which is ascribed to the formation of a liquid phase due to the presence of sodium traces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]