Thermodynamic Modeling of the Mg-Ni-La-Cu System
The isothermal section at 573 K of the Ni-Cu-La system was experimentally validated as well as the Mg-La-Cu system was thermodynamically evaluated. Four sample alloys in the Ni-Cu-La system were prepared and analyzed by ICP, XRD and BSE/EDS. All the experimental results were compared favorably with the calculated phase relationships. For the Mg-La-Cu ternary system, the isothermal section at 673 K was assessed on the basis of the available results in literatures, which showed a good agreement with the experimental data. Based on the thermodynamic models and parameters of the six binaries and four ternaries, the Mg-Ni-La-Cu system was finally modeled. The non-equilibrium solidification path La0.7Mg0.3Ni2.8-xCux (x=0-0.4) and the vertical section of LaNi5-Mg2Cu were calculated and analyzed from the viewpoint of hydrogen storage alloys design.