Age-hardening in a commercial Mg-based alloy

Abstract

Age-hardening phenomena induced by thermal and thermo-mechanical treatments in the commercial Mg-based alloy WE54 were studied by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and Vickers microhardness. To this aim, samples were plastically deformed and subsequently aged at 250 °C for times ranging from 0 to 1000 hours. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the role of vacancies in the solute transport and therefore they contribute to the discussion on the vacancy-solute clusters (and/or intermediate precipitates) interactions during the precipitation sequence of the WE54. Besides, we show that cold work previous aging not only accelerates but increases the hardening response of the alloy. © 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.