New Class of Amorphous and Icosahedral Phases in Zn–Mg–Rare-Earth Metal Alloys

Abstract
A new class of amorphous and icosahedral phases has been obtained in rapidly solidified Zn-Mg-Rare-Earth Metal (RE) ternary alloys. The rapidly solidified alloy structure exhibits the amorphous phase when it contains the RE elements of La, Ce, Pr or Eu with large atomic size. On the other hand, it exhibits the icosahedral phase when it contains Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu or Y. The tendency for the formation of amorphous or icosahedral phase is mainly dominated by the atomic size of RE elements.