Thermodynamic description of Mg–Zn–Sb system supported by experimental work and extrapolation to the Mg–Zn–Al–Sb quaternary system

Abstract

Magnesium-zinc-antimony (Mg–Zn–Sb) system is a promising cast Mg alloy system. Herein, the thermodynamic assessment of Mg–Zn–Sb ternary system was carried out using the CALculation of PHAse Diagram (CALPHAD) approach coupled with the experimental data in this work. The transformation temperatures and the isothermal section of the Mg-rich corner at 300 °C was investigated. Afterwards, a set of self-consistent parameters of Mg–Zn–Sb system were achieved combined with the thermodynamic descriptions of Mg–Sb and Mg–Zn systems as well as the updated description of Zn–Sb system in the present work. Meanwhile, the ternary Al–Zn–Sb system was re-assessed based on the available literature data. A set of reliable parameters describing the ternary Al–Zn–Sb system were obtained, and the present calculated results can reproduce most of the phase equilibria data. The thermodynamic description of Mg–Al–Zn–Sb systems was then developed using the extrapolation method from the descriptions of the constituent sub-ternary systems.