Tensile Deformation of Magnesium and Magnesium Alloy Single Crystals

According to von-Mises criterion, five kinds of independent slip systems are required for uniform deformation, so it is necessary to activate non-basal slip systems to show good ductility. However, it has not become clear the effect of Zn or Al for non-basal slip systems yet. To investigate deformation behavior of magnesium crystal by non-basal slip and alloying effect for the non-basal slip, pure magnesium and Mg-Al-Zn single crystals were stretched in the [110] direction. While {112}<23> second order pyramidal slip was activated at room temperature in pure magnesium, {101}<23> first order pyramidal slip became active slip at higher temperature. In Mg-Al-Zn alloy single crystal, {101} twin also activated by adding aluminum. These results indicate that active non-basal slip systems and twin in magnesium strongly depend on deformation temperature and alloying elements.