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 gamma precipitates within the alpha-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 alpha-Mg matrix. (C) 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.