Effect of Intermetallic β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ on Fracture of Ultralight Magnesium Alloy

Abstract

An AZ91D magnesium alloy was tested in either compression or tension, and extensive observation of the tested samples was carefully carried out to understand the fracture initiation and propagation processes. Cracking of β-Mg17Al12 intermetallic compounds was found to occur easily in plastic zones under either compressive or tensile loading. However, the cracking did not necessarily result in fracture propagation. It is argued that the fracture is controlled by the microcrack propagation.