Icosahedral quasicrystal phase in Mg–Zn–Nd ternary system

Abstract Mg–Zn–Nd master alloy containing icosahedral quasicrystal phase with an interesting macro-shape has been prepared under conventional casting conditions. The microstructures and phases of Mg–Zn–Nd ternary alloy have been investigated by using SEM, EDS and TEM. The results show that the spherical phase in Mg–Zn–Nd master alloy is a simple icosahedral quasicrystal with stoichiometric composition of Mg 40 Zn 55 Nd 5 and quasi-lattice a R  = 0.525 nm. In this research, when the content of Nd is 1.20 at.% and atom ratio value of Mg/Zn at the range of 2.4–2.7, the as-cast solidification microstructure mainly consists of primary I-phase and Mg 7 Zn 3 single-phase matrix.