The Z-Zn Mg Sm ternary phase has been studied by electron diffraction. Y 6 3 and the rare-earth elements with atomic radii just below that of Sm in Zn Mg RE 6 3 alloys (RE rare earth or Y) form the icosahedral phase, while with Sm it forms the Z phase. The Z phase is hexagonal with a = 12.4 A and c = 8.8 A, and with the space group P 6 / mmc . The relationship of this phase to the icosahedral 3 quasicrystal is demonstrated through diffraction features. It is shown that this hexagonal phase consists of three icosahedral units rotated by 120o about a common twofold axis, forming the sixfold axis. The similarity of this hexagonal phase to the hexagonal quasicrystal is shown.
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Singh et al. (1998) studied this question.