Mg₁₇Al₁₂ is the principal intermetallic second phase in the Mg–Al based alloys (AM series) that significantly affects their mechanical performance. Modification of this intermetallic has been possible with rare earth elements, resulting in mechanical performance improvement of the AM alloys. The modification of the intermetallic has been studied with respect to alteration of the morphology, but little is known about the effect of alloying elements on the intrinsic properties of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ which has a complex crystal structure. In previous studies on first principle simulations of the phase, the effect of alloying additions was not well-investigated. The current experimental study investigates the effect of low and high Yttrium (Y) additions on the mechanical properties, microstructure, and crystal structure of Mg₁₇Al₁₂. Scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, X-rays diffraction, ultrasonic and mechanical testing along with thermodynamic calculations are employed to better understand the role of Y in the modification of Mg₁₇Al₁₂. Low Y additions decrease the lattice constant of β phase, but higher amounts present an opposite trend. According to the elastic moduli calculations Mg₁₇Al₁₂ is a ductile phase although Y slightly makes it more brittle. The Young's, shear, and bulk moduli increase with Y additions.

Mg ₁₇ Al ₁₂是Mg-Al 基合金（AM 系列）中主要的金属间第二相，对它们的机械性能有显着影响。可以用稀土元素对这种金属间化合物进行改性，从而提高 AM 合金的机械性能。已经研究了金属间化合物的形貌改变，但关于合金元素对 Mg ₁₇ Al ₁₂的本征性质的影响知之甚少它具有复杂的晶体结构。在之前对相的第一性原理模拟的研究中，合金添加的影响没有得到很好的研究。当前的实验研究调查了低和高钇 (Y) 添加量对 Mg ₁₇ Al ₁₂的机械性能、微观结构和晶体结构的影响。采用扫描电子显微镜、电子探针微量分析、X 射线衍射、超声波和机械测试以及热力学计算来更好地了解 Y 在 Mg ₁₇ Al ₁₂改性中的作用。低 Y 添加量会降低 β 相的晶格常数，但添加量较高则呈现相反的趋势。根据弹性模量计算 Mg ₁₇Al ₁₂是一种韧性相，尽管 Y 使其更脆。杨氏模量、剪切模量和体积模量随着 Y 的添加而增加。