Characterization of phases in a Mg–6Gd–4Sm–0.4Zr (wt.%) alloy during solution treatment

Phases in as-cast and solution-treated Mg–6Gd–4Sm–0.4Zr (wt.%) alloy have been characterized using transmission electron microscopy in this paper. The intermetallic phase in as-cast microstructure has a face centered cubic crystal structure (a = 2.2879 nm) with a composition of Mg6.2(Sm0.56Gd0.44) and was dissolved after solution treatment. A particulate phase with a face centered cubic crystal structure (a = 0.5502 nm) was found in the solution-treated microstructure and suggested to already exist in as-cast sample as the nucleus for its further growth during solution treatment.