In situ differential scanning calorimetry analysis of dissolution and precipitation kinetics in Mg–Y–RE alloy WE43

Further development of our differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method for the analysis of solid-solid phase transformations now also allows for its application in the kinetic analysis of age hardening in Mg alloys. As a result, the state-of-the-art for DSC on Mg alloys has been improved with respect to the accessible temperature range, zero-level accuracy and dynamic range. DSC analysis was performed on the example of Mg wrought alloy WE43. Heating DSC experiments on the initial condition T4 and even direct continuous cooling DSC analysis on the kinetics of quench induced precipitation during cooling from solution treatment were possible, covering a dynamic range of 0.01–3 K/s. The DSC findings are discussed with respect to literature knowledge and scanning electron microscopy analysis of the defined heat treatment states. Keywords: Precipitation, Dissolution, Kinetics, DSC, Magnesium alloy, WE43, SEM, Quench induced precipitation, Continuous coolin