The Zn-Mg-Y phase diagram involving quasicrystals

Isothermal sections of the Zn—Mg-Y equilibrium phase diagram at 700 K, 773K and 873 K have been determined in the region of 30–70 at.%Zn, 20–60at.%Mg and 0–20at.%Y using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wavelength dispersive X-ray, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The icosahedral phase has equilibrium phase fields with three distinct phases (L, Z, H) at 873 K, four distinct phases (L, W, Z, H) at 773 K and five distinct phases (L, W, Z, H, α) at 700 K. The equilibrium range of composition for the i-phase at these temperatures was determined.