Development of nano-Y₂O₃ containing magnesium nanocomposites using solidification processing

In the present study, nano-Y₂O₃ particulates containing magnesium nanocomposites were synthesized using an innovative disintegrated melt deposition technique followed by hot extrusion. Microstructural characterization of the composite samples showed retention of reinforcement, significant grain refinement of magnesium matrix, and the presence of minimal porosity. Mechanical properties characterization revealed that the presence of nano-Y₂O₃ reinforcement lead to significant improvement in hardness, 0.2% YS and UTS of the magnesium matrix. The ductility of magnesium matrix increases to a peak with 0.22-vol% of nano-Y₂O₃ but started to reduce with subsequent increase in the amount of Y₂O₃. The results further revealed that the combination of 0.2% YS, UTS, and ductility of magnesium matrix with up to 0.66-vol% of nano-Y₂O₃ reinforcement remained much superior even when compared to magnesium reinforced with much higher volume percentage of micrometer size SiC. An attempt is made in the present study to correlate the effect of nano-Y₂O₃ as reinforcement and its increasing amount with the microstructural and mechanical properties of magnesium.