Thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of Mg-Zn-rare earth element alloys with long-period stacking ordered phase

The thermal diffusivity and specific heat of Mg-Zn-rare earth (RE) alloys with long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) structure were measured over the temperature range 298-573 K and their thermal conductivity was calculated. The thermal diffusivity and conductivity of the alloys are weakly temperature dependent with small positive temperature coefficients. LPSO phase-precipitated Mg-Zn-RE alloys exhibit higher thermal conductivity than their solution-treated counterparts because the formation of the LPSO phase consumes solute elements that behave as scatter centers for electrons and phonons