Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg-7.4% Al Alloy Matrix Composites Reinforced by Nanocrystalline Al-Ca Intermetallic Particles

doi:10.1007/s40195-015-0215-y

Abstract

Abstract:

Mg-7.6% Al (in mass fraction) alloy matrix composites reinforced with different volume fractions of nanocrystalline Al₃Ca₈ particles were synthesized by powder metallurgy, and the effect of the volume fraction of reinforcement on the mechanical properties was studied. Room temperature compression test reveals considerable improvement on mechanical properties as compared to unreinforced matrix. The compressive strength increases from 683 MPa for unreinforced alloy matrix to about 767 and 823 MPa for the samples having 20 and 40 vol% of reinforcement, respectively, while retaining appreciable plastic deformation ranging between 12 and 24%. The specific strength of the composites increased significantly, demonstrating the effectiveness of the low-density Al₃Ca₈ reinforcement.

Key words: Intermetallics, Consolidation, Dispersion strengthening, Powder metallurgy, Mechanical property, Electron microscopy

A. K. Chaubey, B. B. Jha, B. K. Mishra. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg-7.4% Al Alloy Matrix Composites Reinforced by Nanocrystalline Al-Ca Intermetallic Particles[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2015, 28(4): 444-448.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 a XRD patterns for the as milled and annealed reinforcement and composites with 20 and 40 vol% of Al35Ca65 powder; b DSC curve of the 200 h milled reinforcement powders (heating rate is 20 K/min)

Fig. 2 a Particle size distribution of 200 h milled Al35Ca65 powders; b corresponding SEM micrograph of the powder

Fig. 3 SEM micrographs for the consolidated Mg-7.4% Al alloy a, consolidated composites reinforced with 20 vol% b, 40 vol% c, 60 vol% d Al3Ca8 particles

Fig. 4 Experimental (square) and theoretical (circle) densities of the consolidated samples as a function of the volume fraction of Al3Ca8 reinforcement

Fig. 5 a Room temperature compression true stress-true strain curves for the consolidated unreinforced Mg-7.4 Al matrix and composites with 20 vol.% (V = 20), 40 vol.% (V = 40) and 60 vol.% (V = 60) of nanostructured Al3Ca8 particles, b corresponding data of mechanical properties

Fig. 6 Specific strength of the composites as a function of the fraction of intermetallic reinforcement. For comparison purposes, the values for Mg-based MMCs reinforced with fly ash [3] and TiC [4] evaluated by compression tests are also reported

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