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Deformation Mechanism in the Crack-Tip Region of Fine-Grained Magnesium Alloy

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Abstract

The deformation mechanism in the crack-tip region of a fine-grained Mg-2.4 at. pct Zn binary alloy was investigated by focused ion beam (FIB) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation and finite element analysis (FEA) at the beginning of the fracture toughness test. The deformed microstructure observations showed the formation of subgrains instead of deformation twins in the fracture toughness tested sample, which was performed at a conventional crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. By preventing the formation of deformation twins at the beginning of the test, the crack tip of the fine-grained magnesium alloys became blunted, and thus, the alloys obtained high fracture toughness. Finite element results showed that the temperature increased 50 to 110 K, and the strain rate became two orders of magnitude higher; however, this temperature increment was not sufficient to form high-angle grain boundaries, i.e., a complete occurrence of dynamic recrystallization. On the other hand, the deformed microstructure observations in the sample, which was tested at a crosshead speed of 50 mm/min, showed the formation of nano-order {10-12} deformation twins and subgrains. The formation of deformation twins was caused, in part, by the severe strain from the operation of a high strain rate in the crack-tip region.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Ms. K. Nakajima and Ms. M. Isaki (National Institute for Materials Science) for the TEM sample preparation by FIB and the experimental help, respectively. This work was supported by a JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B), Grant No. 21760564.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, Japan

    Hidetoshi Somekawa (Senior Researcher), Tadanobu Inoue (Senior Researcher), Alok Singh (Senior Researcher) & Toshiji Mukai (Group Leader)

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  1. Hidetoshi Somekawa
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  2. Tadanobu Inoue
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  3. Alok Singh
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  4. Toshiji Mukai
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Correspondence to Hidetoshi Somekawa.

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Manuscript submitted November 9, 2010.

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Somekawa, H., Inoue, T., Singh, A. et al. Deformation Mechanism in the Crack-Tip Region of Fine-Grained Magnesium Alloy. Metall Mater Trans A 42, 2475–2480 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-011-0642-y

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