Magnesium aluminide

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Magnesium aluminide is an intermetallic compound of magnesium and aluminium. Common phases (molecular structures) include the beta phase (Mg₂Al₃) and the gamma phase (Mg₁₇Al₁₂), which both have cubic crystal structures. Magnesium aluminides are important constituents of 5XXX aluminium alloys (aluminium-magnesium) and magnesium-aluminium alloys, determining many of their engineering properties. MgAl has also been investigated for use as a reactant to produce metal hydrides in hydrogen storage technology. Like many intermetallics, MgAl compounds often have unusual stoichiometries with large and complex unit cells.

[edit] References

Intermetallics, Vol. 11, pp. 373-376 (2003), "Extended Homogeneity Range of Intermetallic Phases in Mechanically Alloyed Mg-Al Alloys," by D. Singh, C. Suryanarayana, L. Mertus, and R-H. Chen.