Modification mechanism of rare earth elements in ZA27 casting alloys

The model of the liquid-phase ZA27 alloys was set up by molecular dynamics theory. The atomic structure of phase, RE-compounds, and the phase-liquid interface in ZA27 alloys were constructed by computer programming. Electronic structures of phase with rare earth elements dissolved and of phase-liquid interfaces with rare earth elements enrichment in ZA27 casting alloys were investigated by using the Recursion method. The ESE energy of RE elements and the structure energy of RE-compounds, phase, and the liquid-phase ZA27 alloys were calculated. The results show that rare earth elements are more stable to be in the phase interface than in phase, which explains the fact of very small solid solubility of rare earth elements in phase, and the enrichment in the solid-liquid growth front. This makes dendrite melt And break down I dissociate and propagate. RE-compounds can act as heterogeneous nuclei for phase, leading to phase refinement. All above elucidates the modification mechanism of rare earth elements in zinc-aluminum casting alloys, at electronic level.