Microstructure and Creep Resistance of Mg-(8-12 Wt.%) Zn-(2-6 Wt.%) Al Alloys

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the microstructural characteristics and creep resistance of Mg-(8-12 Wt. %) Zn-(2-6 Wt. %) Al alloys in order to get a better overall understanding of these series alloys. The results indicate that the alloys studied with the ratio of Zn/Al concentration between 2 and 3 exhibit high creep resistances, and the alloy ZA124 with the continuous network of τ precipitate along grain boundaries shows the highest creep resistance. The creep resistance of alloys decreases significantly due to  eutectic phase,  eutectics and β compounds appearing, especially the creep properties of alloys containing  eutectic phase and β phase with lower Zn/Al concentration are obviously inferior to other alloys.