Role of Zn in enhancing the creep resistance of Mg–RE alloys

Addition of Zn to Mg–Nd–La alloys resulted in an order of magnitude drop in the minimum creep rate. This remarkable improvement in creep resistance resulted from a high number density of highly refined γ″ precipitates within the α-Mg matrix coupled with preferential segregation of Zn atoms to defect/dislocation structures. These two microstructural features are expected to enhance the creep resistance by retarding dislocation motion within the α-Mg matrix.