High strength magnesium-based alloys

A high strength magnesium-containing alloy consisting essentially of a fine crystalline structure of a supersaturated solid solution comprising a magnesium matrix;

• or a mixed phase of a magnesium matrix phase and a stable or metastable intermetallic phase, said fine crystalline structure having been formed by cooling at a rate of from 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.5 degrees K/sec and said magnesium-containing alloy consisting of a composition represented by the general formula (II):
• Mg.sub.a X.sub.c M.sub.d ( II)
• wherein:
• X is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Sn and Zn;
• M is Ca;
• and a, c and d are atomic percentages falling within the following ranges:
• 40.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.91, 5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.35 and 1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.25.

A high strength magnesium-containing alloy consisting essentially of a fine crystalline structure of a supersaturated solid solution comprising a magnesium matrix;

• or a mixed phase of a magnesium matrix phase and a stable or metastable intermetallic phase, said fine crystalline structure having been formed by cooling at a rate of from 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.5 degrees K/sec and said magnesium-containing alloy consisting of a composition represented by the general formula (III):
• Mg.sub.a X.sub.c Ln.sub.e ( III)
• wherein:
• X is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Cu, Sn and Zn;
• Ln is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Nd and Sm or a misch metal (Mm) which is a combination of rare earth elements;
• and a, c and e are atomic percentages falling within the following ranges:
• 40.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.91, 5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.35 and 3.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.25.

A high strength magnesium-containing alloy consisting essentially of a fine crystalline structure of a supersaturated solid solution comprising a magnesium matrix;

• or a mixed phase of a magnesium matrix phase and a stable or metastable intermetallic phase, said fine crystalline structure having been formed by cooling at a rate of from 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.5 degrees K/sec and said magnesium-containing alloy consisting of a composition represented by general formula (IV):
• Mg.sub.a X.sub.c M.sub.d Ln.sub.e ( IV)
• wherein:
• (1) X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Sn and Zn;
• M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and Ca;
• Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm and Mm (misch metal), and
• a, c, d and e are, in atomic percent,
• 40.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.91, 5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.35, 1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.25 and 3.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.25, respectively;
• (2) X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni and Sn;
• M is Al;
• Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm and Mm (misch metal);
• and
• a, c, d and e are, in atomic percent,
• 40.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.91, 5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.35, 1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.25 and 3.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.25, respectively;
• (3) X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Sn and Zn;
• M is Al and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and Ca;
• Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm and Mm (misch metal), and a, c, d and e are, in atomic percent,
• 4.ltoreq. a.ltoreq.91, 5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.35, 1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.25 and 3.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.25, respectively;
• or
• (4) X is Zn and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni and Sn;
• M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si and Ca;
• Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm and Mm (misch metal), and a, c, d and e are, in atomic percent,
• 40.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.91, 5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.35, 1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.25 and 3.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.25, respectively.