Metastable hexagonal Mg2Sn obtained by mechanical alloying

We studied the structural evolution produced by ball milling in the system Mg-Sn. The mechanical milling of the mixture of pure metals under argon or hydrogen atmosphere initially leads to the formation of the stable cubic structure of Mg2Sn. Its transformation into the high-pressure, high-temperature phase of Mg2Sn is produced during the course of milling. This metastable hexagonal structure transforms into the stable phase at 440 degreesC. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B V All rights reserved.