Using friction stir processing to fabricate MgAlZn intermetallic alloys

Friction stir processing (FSP) is applied in mixing elemental thin sheets of Mg, Al, and Zn in various portions, resulting in hard intermetallic alloys with Vicker's hardness in excess of 350. The Mg3Al2Zn3 τ phase formed at ∼360 °C during FSP, coupled with some other binary or ternary phases of nano size, accounts for the high hardness.