Effect of rare-earth elements Y and Dy on the deformation behavior of Mg alloy single crystals

Effect of rare-earth elements (Y and Dy) on the mechanical properties of Mg solid solution single crystal is investigated. Comparing with the effect of other elements reported by previous studies, the solid solution strengthening by Y and Dy are much higher than that of other additives such as Zn for basal slip operation, while the isotropic strain by Zn atoms is higher than those of Y and Dy. Strain-rate changing tests were conducted for a further understanding of the dislocation motion and it revealed that the activation volumes estimated for Mg alloys with Y and Dy are much smaller than that of Zn-added alloy, while the activation enthalpy is almost the same. It was confirmed that the high strengthening effect by Dy addition is also found by Y addition, while the elastic interaction based on neither isotropic or anisotropic distortion are sufficient to explain the origin of the strengthening effect by Y and Dy addition.