A HREM and Analytical STEM Study of Precipitates in an AZ91 Magnesium Alloy

 The paper focuses on the microstructural characterisation of secondary phases in an AZ91 magnesium alloy. The orientation relationship and atomic structure of semi-coherent Mg/Mg₁₇Al₁₂ interfaces are studied by means of selected area diffraction, EDS and high resolution TEM. Besides the common Mg₁₇Al₁₂ semi-coherent platelets of high density and coarser incoherent Mg₁₇Al₁₂ particles, other, less frequent precipitates were found, rich in Al and Mn. The quasicrystalline nature of these precipitates was detected by means of electron diffraction.