Deformation behavior of the percolating eutectic intermetallic in HPDC and squeeze-cast Mg alloys

The structural compliance of the spatially interconnected intermetallic network in a squeeze-cast MRI230D alloy was determined using focused ion beam (FIB) data and finite element (FE) modeling, and compared with data for a high-pressure die-cast AZ91D and three binary Mg-RE alloys from the existing literature. The respective elastic responses were sorted out into two characteristic behaviors: for eutectic volume fractions less than ~22% the behavior was akin to that of highly compliant, bending-dominated structures, whereas for larger fractions, it reproduced that of structurally efficient, stretch-dominated microtruss structures. In all cases, the contribution from the interconnected network added to the total strength of the alloy an amount comparable with the strengthening expected from a similar volume fraction of dispersed particles. Being more compliant, the bending-dominated structures appeared less prone to developing damage by cracking at low strains than the stretch dominated ones.