AS21 magnesium alloy (2.1Al-1Si-balance Mg in wt.%) and the alloy reinforced with short delta-Al2O3 fibres (Saffil (R)) were deformed in compression at temperatures between 23 and 300 degrees C. Stress relaxation tests were performed in order to reveal features of the thermally activated dislocation motion.
Internal and effective components of the applied stress have been estimated. The activation volume decreases with increasing effective stress.
The values of the activation volume and the activation enthalpy indicate that the main thermally activated process in the alloy as well as in the composite is the dislocation motion in non-compact planes.