Asymmetry of tensile-compressive mechanical behaviors of Mg-RE-Zn alloy strengthened by long period stacking ordered phase

Abstract The tensile and compressive behaviors of an extruded Mg- 8 Y- 1 Er-2Zn alloy containing a long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase were investigated. Compared with the tensile results, the alloy exhibits higher values of the yield stress, strain to failure and work hardening rate in compressive tests, which indicates that the alloy exhibits an asymmetry of tensile-compressive mechanical behaviors. The LPSO phase cracks during tensile deformation while it exhibits a kinking characteristic in the process of compression. It can be concluded that the two different deforming modes of the LPSO phase are the cause of the asymmetry of tensile-compressive mechanical behaviors.