Stacking-fault energy

The stacking-fault energy (SFE) is a material property on a very small scale. It is noted as γ_SFE in units of joules per square meter.

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Weighing the right way

Recognize and detect the effects of electrostatic charges on your balance

The SFE modifies the ability of a dislocation in a crystal to glide onto an intersecting slip plane. When the SFE is low, the mobility of dislocations in a material decreases.

The SFE for magnesium is relatively high, and has a value of 125 mJ m^{-2 [1]}.

References

1. ^  N.V. Ravi Kumar et al., Grain refinement in AZ91 magnesium alloy during thermomechanical processing, Materials and Engineering A359 (2003), 150-157