Microstructural characterization of droplet emulsified Mg60Cu30Y10 powders

The phase selection and microstructural morphology changes of Mg60Cu30Y10 (numbers indicate at.%) alloy were investigated through the droplet emulsion technique (DET). The emulsified Mg60Cu30Y10 alloy powders showed several different microstructures depending on the amount of undercooling. The amount of undercooling of the powders was monitored by differential thermal analysis and was matched with the microstructures. Both the transmission electron microscopy study and the microhardness test showed that a nanocrystalline embedded amorphous phase could be synthesized using the DET. The use of a microstructure selection map for the tailored solidification of Mg60Cu30Y10 alloy powders was also suggested.