Outstanding enhancement in critical resolved shear stress of basal slip with precipitation in Mg-10Dy-0.7La alloy: a micro-pillar compression study

Abstract The strengthening effect of precipitates on the operation of basal slip in Mg-10Dy-0.7La has been studied. Micropillar compression was performed on grains of solution-treated and peak-aged specimens selected to favour basal slip. The CRSS of basal slip was calculated from the stress-strain curves. The peak-aged alloy showed a remarkable increase in the CRSS for basal slip as compared to that of solution-treated specimen: the highest reported increase for any Mg-RE alloy. Increased CRSS can be rationalised by considering network of precipitates.