Effects of Sn additions on the microstructure and impression creep behavior of AZ91 magnesium alloy

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 566; pp. 30 - 39
• Main Authors: Mahmudi, R., Moeendarbari, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 20.03.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; AZ91 Mg alloy; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Creep; Creep mechanism; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Deformation, plasticity, and creep; Diffusion in solids; Exact sciences and technology; Impression creep; Materials science; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Physics; Solid solution, precipitation, and dispersion hardening; aging; Transport properties of condensed matter (nonelectronic); Treatment of materials and its effects on microstructure and properties; Impression creep; Creep mechanism; AZ91 Mg alloy; Temperature dependence; Solid solution strengthening; Beta phase; Creep; Volume fraction; Creep strength; Creep rate; Structure composition relationship; Dislocation climb; Tin addition; Eutectic; Magnesium alloy; Stress effects; Material testing; Diffusion; Microstructure; Activation energy
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2012.12.076

The microstructural evolution and creep behavior of a cast AZ91 alloy with 0.5, 1, and 2wt% Sn additions were examined by impression tests in the temperature range 423–523K under constant punching stresses in the range 150–650MPa. The results showed that, for all loads and temperatures, the AZ91–2Sn alloy had the lowest creep rates and, thus, the highest creep resistance among all materials tested. This is attributed to the formation of Mg2Sn, reduction in the volume fraction of the eutectic β-Mg17Al12 phase, and solid solution hardening effects of Al and Sn in the Mg matrix. The respective stress exponents and activation energies of 5.0–6.9 and 110–150kJ/mol were similar for all alloys studied. The decreasing trend of creep activation energy with stress suggests that two parallel mechanisms of lattice and pipe diffusion-controlled dislocation climb are competing. The former is the controlling mechanism at low stresses, while the latter prevails at high stresses.