Alloying dependence of Portevin–Le Chatelier effect in Al-Mg alloys

The Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) effect in Al-Mg alloys with different chemical and phase contents were investigated at various strain rates at room temperature. The coarse-grained alloys exhibited conventional sequence of variations in serration types from A to A + B and C when the strain rate decreased. Types A and B dominated the overall pattern whereas type C serrations were only observed during short periods at the stage of necking at the left (low strain rate) boundary of the PLC domain. The critical strains for the onset of PLC effect at low strain rate were measured as functions of strain rate.