Converting hcp Mg-Al-Zn alloy into bee Mg-Li-Al-Zn alloy by electrolytic deposition and diffusion of reduced lithium atoms in a molten salt electrolyte LiCl-KCl

摘要

A body-centered cubic (bcc) Mg-12Li-9Al-1Zn (wt. percent) alloy was fabricated in air by electrolysis from LiCl-KCl molten salt at 500 deg C. Electrolytic deposition of Li atoms on cathode (Mg-Al-Zn alloy) and diffusion of the Li atoms formed the bcc Mg-Li-Al-Zn alloy with 12 wt. percent Li and only 0.264 wt. percent K. Low K concentration in the bcc Mg alloy strip after the electrolysis process resulted from 47 percent atomic size misfit between K and Mg atoms and low solubility of K in Mg matrix.