Precipitation hardenable Mg–Bi–Zn alloys with prismatic plate precipitates

We demonstrate the potential of the Mg–Bi–Zn system as a new precipitation hardenable magnesium alloy. The addition of 1 at.% Zn to Mg–0.8 at.% Bi enhanced the peak hardness from 50 to 68 with isothermal aging at 160 °C. The increased peak hardness was attributed to the homogeneous dispersion of the fine Mg3Bi2 plates on the prismatic plane. The microstructure characterization suggested that the Mg2Zn precipitates are associated with the uniform dispersion and the precipitation of the Mg3Bi2 prismatic plates.