Calorimetric analysis of AM60 magnesium alloy

Calorimetric analysis is commonly used for the study of several solid state transformations, among which phase transformations. Information about enthalpy, kinetics and general features of transformations could be obtained with suitable configurations of the analysis equipment and arrangements of the tests procedures. An experimental analysis of the transformations occurring in a Mg-Al-Mn alloy, namely AM60, has been performed on samples cut from as die-cast components. The results obtained confirmed that calorimetric analysis is a suitable method for the study of transformations of such kind of alloys. Using the technique of multiple heating rate tests, an estimation of activation energy of dissolution of Mg17Al12 phase has been derived.