Mechanical properties of the icosahedral phase reinforced duplex Mg-Li alloy both at room and elevated temperatures

Through investigating tensile properties of the duplex Mg-Li alloys with and without I-phase (Mg3Zn6Y, icosahedral quasicrystal structure) tested both at ambient and elevated temperatures, it demonstrates that I-phase can not only improve the tensile strength at room temperature, but also be beneficial for the mechanical improvement at elevated temperatures. Based on the microstructural observations of the sample surfaces before and after tests, the I-phase particles can effectively suppress the plastic flow of β phase at 220 °C, resulting in the I-phase reinforced duplex Mg-Li alloy having higher mechanical properties at elevated temperatures.