Influence of mischmetal composition on crystallization and mechanical properties of Mg80–Ni10–MM10 alloys

The influence of mischmetal composition, cerium- or lanthanum-rich, on crystallization and mechanical properties of amorphous Mg10Ni10MM10 alloys has been evaluated. The microstructure of the alloys consists of Mg17RE2 matrix (RE denotes a rare earth element) embedding other intermetallic phases whose compositions depend on the nature of mischmetal addition. Major difference arises from the formation of Ni3RE in the alloy prepared with cerium-mischmetal instead of the Mg2Ni phase crystallized in the lanthanum-mischmetal-containing alloy. The mechanical behaviour, however, is very similar independently of the type of mischmetal added.