Effects of cerium addition on fatigue fracture behavior of magnesium single crystals

Abstract

Pure Mg, Mg-0.016 mol%Ce alloy and Mg-0.028 mol%Ce alloy single crystalline thin sheets were subjected to plain bending fatigue tests so as to clarify effects of cerium addition on fatigue fracture behavior of magnesium. Fatigue limit and fatigue life improved by cerium addition. With increasing cerium concentration, fatigue crack initiation lives became short, while crack propagation rates decreased. Critical resolved shear stress for second order pyramidal slip decreased by cerium addition, resulting in short fatigue crack initiation lives.