High-resolution electron microscopy observations of the microstructure of a rapidly solidified Mg-9.0 wt% Al-1.0 wt% Zn-4.0 wt% Sn alloy

The present study examines the microstructure of rapidly solidified ribbons of an Mg-9.0 wt% Al-1.0 wt% Zn-4.0 wt% Sn alloy. XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), confirmed that the rapidly solidified ribbons consist of -Mg, -Mg17Al12 and -Mg2Sn phases. The predominant fraction of the -Mg17Al12 phase reveals intergranular texture morphologies with the Burgers OR. The minor fraction of the phase exists in short-lath morphology with a typical grain size of 30 nm, and its orientation relationship with the matrix is also the Burgers orientation relationship. The -Mg2Sn particle reveals spherical morphology with the typical grain size of 40 nm, and its orientation relationship with the matrix is in the form of [image omitted], [image omitted].