Fabrication of multi-phases composite Mg-Ni alloys by high current pulsed electron beam

Promising hydrogen storage can be obtained by hydride composites, the present investigation employed high currency pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) to deposit nano Ni powder on a commercial purity magnesium producing Mg-Ni alloy of multi-phases. Different roughness surface of magnesium were made and subjected to HCPEB treatment firstly, a content of Ni powder were coated on magnesium bases subsequently. Acceleration voltage of 25 kV and 10 pulses were used for Mg-Ni alloying by HCPEB. XRD results show a composite of Mg, Mg2Ni and MgNi2 after HCPEB processing. It concludes that the deformation introduced by HCPEB treatment and adhesion of Ni powder are favorable for the formation of hydrogen storage phase Mg2Ni. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of Chinese Materials Research Society.