Microstructure of Mg–Zn–Ca thin film derived by pulsed laser deposition

Mg60Zn40−хCaх (х = 5, 3, 1) powders and thin films have been produced by high energy mechanical alloying (HEMA) and pulsed laser deposition (PLD), respectively and the influence of PLD processing parameters on the microstructures of the Mg–Zn–Ca amorphous thin film was investigated using XRD, TEM, HRTEM and XEDS. Amorphous powder and thin film corresponding to Mg60Zn35Ca5 composition have been successfully generated. The substrate temperature appears to be the dominant PLD processing parameter among others contributing to the formation of amorphous thin film.