The microstructures and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-5 Sn-1 Si magnesium alloy modified with trace elements Y,Bi,Sb and Sr were investigated and compared.Results show that the microstructure of the as-cast Mg-5 Sn-1 Si alloy consists ofα-Mg,Mg_(2) Si,Mg_(2) Sn and Mg_(2)(Si_xSn_(1-x))phases.After adding 0.8 wt.%Y,0.3 wt.%Bi,0.9 wt.%Sb and 0.9 wt.%Sr,respectively into the Mg-5 Sn-1 Si magnesium alloy,Mg_(24)Y_(5),Mg_(3) Bi_(2),Mg_(3) Sb_(2) and Mg_(2) Sr phases are precipitated accordingly.Trace elements can refineα-Mg grain and Chinese scriptshaped Mg_(2) Si phase.Refinement efficiency of different trace elements onα-Mg grain and Mg_(2) Si phase is varied.Sr element has the best refinement effect,followed by Sb and Bi,while Y has the least refinement effect.Mg-5 Sn-1 Si-0.9 Sr alloy has higher tensile properties than the other three modified alloys.The refinement mechanism of Y,Bi and Sr elements on Mg-5 Sn-1 Si magnesium alloy can be explained by the growth restriction factors and the solute undercooling.For Mg-5 Sn-1 Si-0.9 Sb alloy,the heterogeneous nuclei of Mg_(3) Sb_(2) phase is the main reason for the refinement of grains and second phases.
