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Abstract

The effect of 1 wt % Pr addition on ZRE1 cast alloy was investigated using Optical Microscope (OM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive Spectrum (EDS) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The purpose of this research is to investigate the variations in grain size and intermetallics formation with Pr addition, as well as their effect on hardness. The microstructure observations show that the grains became smaller with Pr addition, which lead to the increase of hardness of base alloy. EDS results showed that the base alloy mainly consists of a-Mg matrix and Mg-Zn-Ce as a second phase crystallized along the grain boundaries and when Pr was added, the Mg-Zn-Ce-Pr phase was formed, where Pr combined with the original second phase. The solubility of zinc and Pr in magnesium formed Zn-rich particles around grain boundaries.