Precipitate size evolution in an ultrafine-grained magnesium-manganese alloy

Precipitate size evolution during room temperature high-pressure torsion (HPT) of a Mg-1.35wt.%Mn alloy was studied using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and Small-/Wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS). The volume fraction of the nm-scale $α$-Mn particles increased with applied strain, however small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicated that the majority of manganese remained in solution even after 10 HPT rotations, indicating that the reaction progress is still limited by the diffusivity of Mn. Analysis of the precipitate size distribution determined that the mean particle size did not increase over the course of HPT. This, in combination with the precipitate size distribution suggested that precipitate growth was subject to interfacial rather than diffusional control.