Microstructural characterization of a Mg-9% Li-1% Zn alloy

Abstract

A Mg-9%Li-1%Zn alloy was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and microdiffractometry. The alloy had a dual phase structure with dispersed particles of ZnO and MgO oxides. The Wurtzite structure of ZnO exhibited a good orientation with respect to the Mg matrix, but the MgO did not. The peak aging at a temperature of 100°C occurred at 10h. At 50°C, the hardness reached the maximum value after an aging period of around 100h. The appearance of the extra bump adjacent to the main peak of α(002) after aging at 50°C/100 h and 100°C/10h, was thought to correspond to a precipitate phase or spinodal decomposition. © 2006 The Japan Institute of Metals.