Influence of loading path and precipitates on indentation creep behavior of wrought Mg-6Â wt% Al-1Â wt% Zn magnesium alloy

This study reports the effect of loading path and precipitates on indentation induced creep behavior of AZ61 magnesium alloy. Indentation creep tests were performed on solution-treated and peak-aged extruded AZ61 magnesium alloy, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) investigations were carried out to study deformation mechanisms. Twinning is the dominant creep mechanism for indentation along the extrusion direction (ED) in solution-treated alloy. A combination of slip and twinning appears to be the prominent mechanisms for indentation creep perpendicular to ED. Creep flow is arrested for indentation perpendicular to ED, due to slip-twin interactions. Influence of precipitates on creep deformation was also studied. Aged specimen exhibited higher creep resistance than solution-treated specimen. Unlike solution-treated specimens, twinning was not observed in aged alloy. Creep in aged specimen was attributed to slip.