Suppressing Effect of Heat Treatment on the Portevin–Le Chatelier Phenomenon of Mg–4%Li–6%Zn–1.2%Y Alloy

Abstract

Microstructural evolution and Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) phenomenon of the as-extruded Mg–4%Li–6%Zn–1.2%Y alloy before and after heat treatment have been investigated. It has been demonstrated that for the as-extruded and solid solution treated (T4) samples, the PLC phenomenon could be obviously observed on tensile stress–strain curves. Moreover, the PLC phenomenon in T4 samples was more salient than that in the as-extruded condition, suggesting that the occurrence of PLC phenomenon was closely related to the super-saturation degree of solute atoms in the matrix. Since most of solute atoms were consumed for the formation of MgZn precipitates (β1′ and a little of β2′) during the subsequent ageing treatment (T6), the PLC phenomenon of T6 samples was eliminated. Meanwhile, due to the pinning effect of the formed MgZn precipitates on mobile dislocations, the tensile strength of T6 samples was relatively higher than those of the other two conditions.