A new hexagonal AlZnY phase and the nano-hardness in Mg-Y-Al-Zn alloy

Abstract

The composition of the phases in the Mg–Y–Al–Zn system is still ambiguous mainly because the elemental compositions of these phases are tested without studying the corresponding crystal structures. In the present work, a new hexagonal phase AlZnY (a = b = 8.9443 Å, c = 7.2111 Å, and α = β = 90° γ = 120°) was observed in the Mg–4Y–Al–3Zn alloy for the first time. The deformation behavior of the AlZnY phase was evaluated, the results show that it is a brittle phase with a hardness of 2.04–2.21 GPa. This study provides new data for the knowledge base of the Mg–Y–Al–Zn alloy system.