High temperature deformation behavior of permanent casting AZ91 alloy with and without Sb addition

Abstract

The elevated temperature deformation behavior of permanent cast magnesium alloy AZ91 with and without Sb addition has been investigated using slow strain rate (5.0 × 10 −4 s −1 ) elevated temperature tensile and constant load creep testing at 150 • C and 50 MPa. The alloy with 0.4 wt% Sb showed a higher elevated temperature tensile strength and creep resistance due to the formation of thermal stable Mg 3 Sb 2 precipitates and a smaller microstructure as well as the suppressing of the discontinuous precipitation. Plastic deformation of AZ91 based alloys is determined by motion of dislocation in basal plane and non-basal slip systems. The dislocation motion in a slip system is influenced by temperature, precipitates and other lattice defects. Dislocations jog, grain boundaries and/or precipitates are considered as obstacles for moving dislocations. The (0112) deformation twinning were founded in the creep process by TEM. Cross slip of dislocations was taken into account as the main softening mechanism for permanent cast AZ91 alloy during elevated temperature deformation process. C 2002 Kluwer Academic Publisher