Development of a compact compression test stage for synchrotron radiation micro-Laue diffraction measurements of long-period stacking-ordered phases in Mg–Zn–Y alloys

We have developed a compact compression test stage for synchrotron radiation (SR) micro-Laue diffraction (MLD) measurements to investigate the deformation behavior of Mg-Zn-Y alloys with long-period stacking-ordered (LPSO) structures. The stage can compress a small sample with a size of 0.3 x 0.3 x 1.0 mm(3). The loading can be changed from 0 to 100 N. Using this compression test stage, MLD experiments were performed on a directionally solidified Mg85Zn6Y9 alloy polycrystal with a single 18R-type LPSO phase. We succeeded in revealing the change in the grain boundaries with increasing compression loading. (C) 2016 The Japan Society of Applied Physics