DEVELOPMENT OF MG-V ALLOYS BY PHYSICAL VAPOR-DEPOSITION PART-1 - BULKAND SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION

A series of Mg-V alloys were produced by physical vapour deposition (P VD). Both c and a lattice parameters, as well as the c/a ratio decreas ed with increasing vanadium content. The deposits were characterised b y a strong basal texture. The solid solubility of vanadium in magnesiu m was extended to similar to 17 wt-% V. Grain refinement occurred with increasing solute content. The solid solution breakup temperature dec reased as the vanadium content in the alloys increased. Pure vanadium precipitated when solid solubility was not retained. A thin oxide laye r of between 10 and 20 nm existed at the surfaces of the alloys and co nsisted predominantly of hydromagnesite at the outermost surface with Mg(OH)(2) in an excess of MgO underneath. No evidence of vanadium oxid e in the surface film was found. Magnesium oxide was also found to exi st between the grains of the deposits, creating a graded metal/oxide i nterface. MST/3482.