Stoichiometry study on the binary compounds in the Mg–Ce system—Part I

The stoichiometry of two intermetallic compounds, Mg12Ce and Mg41Ce5, in the Mg–Ce binary system has been studied by means of SEM/energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) of synthesized and annealed alloys. On the Mg-rich side of the present phase diagram study, the compositional range of Mg12Ce has been determined to be Mg(11.17–10.81)Ce at ambient temperature, and Mg(11.31–10.75)Ce at 530 °C. Mg41Ce5, on the other hand, has been confirmed as a line compound, but with composition 11.3 at% Ce, rather than 10.9 at% Ce, as shown in existing phase diagrams. A modified version of the Mg-rich side of the Mg–Ce phase diagram is proposed, which includes two intermetallic compounds Mg11Ce and Mg39Ce5.