Newly designed multicomponent light alloys are giving rise to non-conventional microstructures that need to be thoroughly studied before determining their potential applications. In this study, the novel Al58Zn28Si8Mg6 alloy, previously studied with CALPHAD methods, was cast and heat-treated under several conditions. An analysis of the phase evolution was carried out with in situ X-ray diffraction supported by differential scanning calorimetry and electron microscopy. A total of eight phases were identified in the alloy in the temperature range from 30 to 380 °C: α-Al, α’-Al, Zn, Si, Mg2Si, MgZn2, Mg2Zn11, and SrZn13. Several thermal transitions below 360 °C were determined, and the natural precipitation of the Zn phase was confirmed after nine months. The study showed that the thermal history can strongly affect the presence of the MgZn2 and Mg2Zn11 phases. The combination of X-ray thermo-diffraction with CALPHAD methods, differential scanning calorimetry, and electron microscopy offered us a satisfactory understanding of the alloy behavior at different temperatures.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.