Question

Adding of zirconium in magnesium metal results in the formation of magnesium-zirconium alloy of enhanced ductility.

(a) True

(b) False

This question was posed to me in a national level competition.

This intriguing question comes from Magnesium Alloys in section Foundry Introduction & Materials of Casting-Forming-Welding II

Answer 1

The correct option is (b) False

Best explanation: The grain size is highly affected by adding zirconium in magnesium metal. Addition of less than 0.6% zirconium in magnesium is sufficient to obtain grain size less than 80 microns in casted components. This further increases hardness in the material due to formation of fine grains and ductility also decreases simultaneously.