Magnesium Alloy

Abstract

A magnesium alloy containing 2.0 to 10 at. % zinc, 0.05 to 0.2 at. % zirconium, 0.2 to 1.50 at. % rare earth element, and the balance being magnesium and unavoidable impurities. The Mg—Zn-RE has improved strength, particularly high-temperature strength.

1 . A magnesium alloy comprising: 
 2.0 to 10 at. % zinc;    0.05 to 0.2 at. % zirconium;    0.2 to 1.50 at. % rare earth element; and    the balance being magnesium and unavoidable impurities, the alloy comprising nanoparticles having a complex structure such as quasicrystal or approximate crystal at the magnesium crystal boundary, wherein a fine precipitate is uniformly dispersed inside the magnesium crystal grains    
   
   
       2 . The magnesium alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein the rare earth element is yttrium.  
   
   
       3 . The magnesium alloy according to  claim 1  or  2 , having the general formula:  
       Mg 100−(a+b+c) Zn a Zr b RE c    
     where RE is a rare earth element, and a, b, and c indicate atomic percentages of Zn, Zr, and RE, respectively,  
     where the following relationships are satisfied:  
     
       
         
           
             
               a 
               12 
             
             ≤ 
             
               b 
               + 
               c 
             
             ≤ 
             
               a 
               3 
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             1.5 
             < 
             a 
             < 
             10 
           
         
       
       
         
           
             0.05 
             < 
             b 
             < 
             
               0.25 
               ⁢ 
               
                 c 
                 . 
               
             
           
         
       
     
   
   
       4 . The magnesium alloy according to  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the quasicrystal comprises one or more alloys selected from the group consisting of Al—Pd—Mn, Al—Cu—Fe, Cd—Yb, and Mg—Zn—Y.  
   
   
       5 . The magnesium alloy according to  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the fine precipitate comprises an approximate crystal or an MgY intermetallic compound.