Impression creep behavior of different zones in friction stir welded Mg–Zn–Mn wrought alloy

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 57; no. 31; pp. 15059 - 15077
• Main Authors: Ebenezer, D., Koteswara Rao, S. R., Harikrishna, K. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-08-2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activation energy; Alloys; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Creep strength; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Dislocation mobility; Friction stir welding; Heat affected zone; Impression creep; Laws, regulations and rules; Magnesium alloys; Magnesium base alloys; Materials Science; Metals & Corrosion; Photomicrographs; Polymer Sciences; Solid Mechanics; Specialty metals industry; Steady state; Temperature dependence; Welded joints; Wrought alloys; Zinc; Zinc compounds
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-022-07522-z

The friction stir welded joint of wrought ZM21 alloy was divided into five parts, and their localized creep behavior was studied via the impression method. The tests were carried out in the stress range of 300–450 MPa (
σ
imp
/
G
≈ 0.02–0.03) and in the temperature range of 448–523 K. Optical and SEM micrographs and EDS taken before and after the impression tests were used to study the microstructure of various zones of the FS welded joint. Power law was found to satisfactorily relate the stress and strain rates. The steady-state impression velocity was found to vary significantly between the advancing and retreating sides of TMAZ and HAZ. For TMAZ, the creep exponent on the AS was 4.8, and on the RS, it was 7.8. The activation energy on the AS was ~ 133 kJ/mol, and on the RS, it was ~ 101 kJ/mol. Similarly, for HAZ, the creep exponent on the AS was found to be 5.5 and on the RS, it was 4.9. The activation energy on the AS was ~ 86 kJ/mol and on the RS, it was ~ 232 kJ/mol. The cross-over of steady-state impression velocity of different zones indicates that the weak zone was temperature and stress dependent. Within the stresses and temperatures studied, the weld zone's creep resistance (i.e., lower minimum impression velocity) was found to be better than the base material
.
As it is with most magnesium alloys, dislocation climb was found to be the operative mechanism in the FS weldments of ZM21 alloy. The rate-controlling mechanism remains to be identified because the wide variation in
n
and
Q
values suggests that different creep mechanisms are in operation in different zones.
Graphical abstract