Abstract
Magnesium alloys are very attractive in such applications as automotive, railway and aerospace. Demand for improvement of mechanical properties in magnesium alloys, therefore, becomes greater. However, their mechanical properties are still inferior to aluminum alloys. Their range of application has been limited. Recently we have found that Mg-Zn-RE (RE is rare-earth metals) cast ingot formed a long period stacking ordered (LPSO) structure as well as rapidly solidified alloys, and exhibited excellent mechanical properties which completely overturn common knowledge regarding such materials. The LPSO magnesium alloys are expected to yield a new concept of strengthening in magnesium alloys such as the discovery of GP zone precipitation strengthening in aluminum alloys, bringing out a revolution in magnesium alloys.
