Effects of Stacking Faults on High Temperature Creep Behavior in Mg-Y-Zn Based Alloys

Abstract

Compressive creep behavior of hot-rolled (40%) Mg-Y and Mg-Y-Zn alloys are investigated at 480 ~ 650 K. Creep strength is substantially improved by the simultaneous addition of yttrium and zinc. The minimum creep rate of Mg-0.9mol%Y-0.04mol%Zn (WZ301) alloy decreases to 1/10 lower than that of Mg-1.1mol%Y (W4) alloy at 650 K. Activation energy for creep in W4 and WZ301 alloys are more than 200 kJ/mol at the temperature range of 480 ~ 550 K. These values are higher than the activation energy for self-diffusion coefficient in magnesium (135 kJ/mol). Many stacking faults (planar defects, PDs) are only observed on the basal planes of the matrix in Mg-Y-Zn ternary alloys. Stacking fault energy is considered to decrease by the multiple-addition of yttrium and zinc. The size and density of these planar defects depend on solute content, aging condition. TEM observation has been revealed that the decreasing of the stacking fault energy affects the distribution of dislocations during creep. Many a-dislocations on basal planes are extended significantly. Dislocation motion is restricted significantly by both of these two types of stacking faults (planar type and extended dislocations).