Development of high performance magnesium nano-composites using nano-Al₂O₃ as reinforcement

In the present study, magnesium based composites with three different volume percentages of nano-sized Al₂O₃ particulates reinforcement were fabricated using blend-press-sinter methodology avoiding ball milling. Microstructural characterization of the materials revealed reasonably uniform distribution of nano-size Al₂O₃ reinforcement and presence of minimal porosity. Mechanical properties characterization revealed that the presence of nano-Al₂O₃ particulates as reinforcement lead to a simultaneous increase in hardness, elastic modulus, 0.2% yield strength, UTS and ductility of pure magnesium. The results revealed that the 0.2% yield strength, UTS and ductility combination of the magnesium nano-composites containing 0.66 and 1.11 vol% of alumina remained higher when compared to high strength magnesium alloy AZ91 reinforced with much higher amount of micrometer size SiC particulates. An attempt is made in the present study to correlate the effect of presence of nano-Al₂O₃ as reinforcement and its increasing amount with the microstructural and mechanical properties of magnesium.