Structural stabilities and thermal properties of η′-Mg2Zn5-xAl2+x and η-MgZn2 phase in Al–Zn–Mg alloy: first-principles calculation and quasi-harmonic Debye approximation

Abstract

The structural stabilities and thermal properties of η′ and η phase at high temperature and pressure were investigated via first principles calculations combined with quasi-harmonic Debye approximation (QHA). The calculated results illustrate η′ possess high formation enthalpy with lower structural stability at high temperature, which may transits to equilibrium phase η at temperature range of 510–520 K. The calculated thermodynamic properties indicate η exhibits better thermal stability than η′ at high temperature. The thermoelastic properties of η′ and η were estimated based on the temperature-dependent elastic constants Cij(T), and it is revealed the elastic moduli of η′ are larger than that of η though both two phases become deformable with elevated temperature. Moreover, the evaluated thermoelastic anisotropies suggest η′ and η are essentially elastic isotropic on {0001} plane, while η′ exhibit serious mechanical anisotropy and angular bonding characters on both {10-10} and {01–10} planes at high temperature.

Keywords

• Structural stabilities
• Thermodynamic properties
• Thermomechanical properties
• Strengthening phase
• Al–Zn–Mg alloy
• First-principles