MgCu2 explained

MgCu₂ is a binary intermetallic compound of magnesium (Mg) and copper (Cu) adopting cubic crystal structure, more specifically the C15 Laves phase. The space group of MgCu₂ is Fdm with lattice parameter a = 7.04 Å.^[1]

Preparation

MgCu₂ can be prepared by hydrogenation of Mg₂Cu or the reaction of magnesium hydride and metallic copper at elevated temperature and pressure:^[2]

2 Mg₂Cu + 3 H₂ → 3 MgH₂ + MgCu₂

MgH₂ + 2 Cu → MgCu₂ + H₂

MgCu₂ can also be prepared by reacting of stoichiometric amounts of metals at about 380 °C in the presence of excess copper.^[3]

Properties

MgCu₂ can react with boron or its oxide to form magnesium borides.^[4] It can also react with magnesium hydride to produce orthorhombic Mg₂Cu, liberating hydrogen.^[5]

See also

• Laves phase

Notes and References

1. Ganeshan. S.. Shang. S.L.. Zhang. H.. Wang. Y.. Mantina. M.. Liu. Z.K.. Elastic constants of binary Mg compounds from first-principles calculations. Intermetallics. 17. 5. 2009. 313–318. 0966-9795. 10.1016/j.intermet.2008.11.005.
2. Book: Shibata. Kazuya. Tanaka. Koji. Kurumatani. Kosuke. Nishida. Yasuki. Takeshita. Hiroyuki T.. Thermodynamic Evaluation for Formation of MgCu₂ from MgH₂ and Cu. Thermodynamic Evaluation for Formation of MgCu2from MgH2and Cu. 2013. 221–226. 10.1002/9781118792148.ch28. 9781118792148.
3. Arcot. Binny. Cabral. C.. Harper. J. M. E.. Murarka. S. P.. Intermetallic Reactions Between Copper and Magnesium as an Adhesion / Barrier Layer. MRS Proceedings. 225. 2011. 0272-9172. 10.1557/PROC-225-231.
4. Birol. Yucel. Response to Thermal Exposure of Ball-Milled Cu-Mg/B₂O₃ Powder Blends. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B. 44. 4. 2013. 969–973. 1073-5615. 10.1007/s11663-013-9860-6. 2013MMTB...44..969B. 136588797.
5. Volkova. L. S.. Kalinnikov. G. V.. Ivanov. A. V.. Shilkin. S. P.. Synthesis of Mg2Cu and MgCu2 nanoparticles in a KCl-NaCl-MgCl2 melt. Inorganic Materials. 48. 11. 2012. 1078–1081. 0020-1685. 10.1134/S0020168512110179. 96203397.