Shear punch creep characteristics of Mg–3Al–1Zn thin sheets

Creep behavior of the AZ31 (Mg–3Al–1Zn) thin sheets was investigated by the newly developed shear punch creep testing (SPCT) method in the temperature range 423–498 K and under the punch stress range 40–120 MPa. Stress exponents of about 6 and activation energies of 140 kJ/mol, which are close to 135 kJ/mol for lattice diffusion of Mg, are indicative of a dislocation climb creep mechanism. These values are in good agreement with those of the tensile creep and other creep testing methods reported in the literature. The SPCT is thus considered capable of characterizing creep behavior of the thin metal sheets.