Experimental study of the Ce–Mg–Zn phase diagram at 350 °C via diffusion couple techniques

Ce modification of commercial AZ alloys has great potential for the development of Mg alloys with improved formability and creep resistance. Because the solid solubility of Ce in (Mg) solid solution is extremely low, the precipitation of Ce containing intermetallics is expected even at low Ce concentrations. The Ce–Mg–Zn phase diagram at 350 °C was studied in this work by means of diffusion couple techniques. Precipitation of intermetallic phases in the Mg-rich corner has been analyzed using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their compositions were determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).