Investigating deformation processes in AM60 magnesium alloy using the acoustic emission technique

Microstructure changes in an AM60 magnesium alloy were monitored using the acoustic emission (AE) technique during tensile tests in the temperature range from 20 to 300 °C. The correlation of the AE signal and the deformation processes is discussed. It is shown, using transmission electron and light microscopy, that the character of the AE response is associated with various modes of mechanical twinning at lower temperatures, whereas at higher temperatures also the influence of 〈c + a〉 non-basal dislocations on the AE response must be taken into account.