Formation of β' phase in LPSO structures in an Mg88Co5Y7 alloy

Formation of β’ phase in long-period stacking ordered(LPSO) structures in an Mg;Co;Y;(at.%) alloy after aging at 200 °C for 24 h or electron beam(EB) irradiation has been studied by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy(HAADFSTEM). β’ phase was precipitated only in the Mg matrix but not in LPSO structures after aging at 200 °C for 24 h. LPSO structure containing stacking defects transforms into the β’-long phase during EB irradiation, which plays a key role in accelerating solute atoms’ diffusion. New complex β’(LPSO) structures formed in the alloy after EB irradiation, such as β’(12 H) structure with an orthorhombic lattice(Mg;Y, Cmcm,a = 2 _(a0)= 0.642 nm, b=4√3_(a0), c = 6 _(c0)= 3.12 nm).