PLS METHOD APPLIED TO ANALYSIS OF BINARY LAVES PHASE STRUCTURES

The AB2 type Laves phases with cubic MgCu2 and hexagonal MgZn2 structures are investigated by partial least square (PLS) method and some criteria for classification of the two structures of Laves phases are obtained. It is found that for nontransition-transition and transition-transition alloys the valence electron densities of component elements are significant in influencing their Laves phase structures, and for transition-lanthanide (actinides) alloys the valence electron density of the atom at B position is the most important factor influencing their Laves phase structures. Besides, the effects of both valence charge and atomic radius on Laves phase structures are in opposition to each other in transition-lanthanide (actinides) alloys.