Diffusion of 65Zn in AZ91 and QE22 Alloys with Saffil Reinforcement-Influence of Interfaces Matrix/Saffil

Abstract

Diffusion of 65Zn in two commercial Mg-based alloys AZ91 and QE22 with short Saffil fibers was studied. Experiments were carried out in the temperature interval 648 – 728 K by serial sectioning method. The effective diffusion coefficients Deff were compared with 65Zn diffusion coefficients Dv obtained with the same alloys without Saffil fibers. The evaluation of the influence of the interface between the matrix and the fibers upon Deff was done and the zinc diffusion coefficient Di in the interface boundary matrix/Saffil was estimated. Unlike the Arrhenius-like behavior of volume diffusion in both alloys, it was observed that the temperature dependence of both Deff and Di was significantly concave in the measured temperature interval. This behavior was attributed to relaxation of thermo-elastic stresses in the composite induced by a large difference between coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of Saffil fibers and metal matrix. The maximum values of Deff and Di, respectively, lie close to 693 K, where CTE has a minimum.