Preparation, interfacial regulation and strengthening of Mg/Al bimetal fabricated by compound casting: A review

Mg/Al bimetal combines the advantages of both aluminum and magnesium and has broad application prospects in automotive, aerospace, weapons, digital products and so on. The compound casting has the characteristics of low cost, easy to achieve metallurgical combination and suitable for the preparation of complex bimetallic parts. However, bimetallic joint strength is low due to differences of physical properties between Al and Mg, oxide film on metallic surface and interfacial Al-Mg IMCs, which is closely related to the interfacial microstructure and properties. Therefore, how to control the interface of the bimetal to achieve performance enhancement is the focus and difficulty in this field. At present, there are mainly the following strengthening methods. First, the “zincate galvanizing” and “electrolytic polishing+anodic oxidation” technology were exert on the surface of Al alloy to remove and break the oxide film, which improved the wettability between Al and Mg. Second, the undesirable Al-Mg IMCs were reduce or elimination by adding the interlayers (Zn, Ni and Ni-Cu). Thirdly, the evolution process of interfacial microstructure was changed and fine strengthening phases were formed by adding Si element to Al alloy or rare earth element to Mg alloy. Fourthly, mechanical vibration and ultrasonic vibration were applied in the process of the filling and solidification to refine and homogenize the interfacial structure. Finally, some other methods, including secondary rolling, thermal modification, heat treatment and constructing exterior 3D morphology, also can be used to regulate the interfacial microstructure and compositions. The above strengthening methods can be used alone or in combination to achieve bimetallic strengthening. Finally, the future development direction of the Mg/Al bimetal is prospected, which provides some new ideas for the development and application of the Mg/Al bimetal.