Evaluation of the mechanical properties of Zn-Mg alloys with composition of Mg

In this study, Zn-Mg alloys with various Mg contents were manufactured by the casting method using an induction melting furnace. Then microstructure analysis and mechanical property tests were carried out. In the Zn-Mg alloy with a content of less than 7 wt%Mg, the hardness of the Zn-Mg alloys gradually increased as the Mg content increased but in the alloy with more than Zn-7 wt%Mg, the hardness was almost the same. Enhanced hardness is induced by the intermetallic compounds phase of Mg₂Z₁ and MgZn ₂. In the compression test, Zn-3 wt%Mg had the best compression strength at 610 MPa, but Zn-7 wt%Mg and Zn-10 wt%Mg had a low compression strength at 343 Mpa and 111 MPa, respectively, although these alloys have excellent hardness. This study verified that Zn-Mg alloys containing a Zn phase have more toughness than those composed of only intermetallic compounds such as Mg₂Znn and MgZn₂.