Effect of Copper Nanoparticle on the High-Temperature Tensile Behavior of a Mg–Y ₂O ₃ Nanocomposite

0.7 volume percentage of nanometer size fine yttria particle-reinforced magnesium nanocomposite displayed a range of structural properties which are suitable for weight critical applications. In this study, nanometer size pure copper particles ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 vol% were incorporated into the Mg–0.7%Y ₂O ₃ nanocomposite using the powder metallurgy process. The incorporation of the 0.3 volume percentage of nanometer size copper particles effectively enhanced the structural properties of the yttria-reinforced magnesium nanocomposite, and this improvement was sustained at temperatures up to 100∘C. The copper nanoparticles incorporation also improved the formability of the yttria-reinforced magnesium nanocomposite to an impressive level so that fabrication of a near-net intricate shape of the yttria-reinforced magnesium nanocomposite will be possible, even at a relatively low temperature. However, the increasing agglomeration tendency of the nanoparticles hindered the effect of the copper particles in the yttria-reinforced magnesium nanocomposite when added at levels beyond 0.3 vol% (i.e., up to 1.0 vol%), and a gradual deterioration in the properties of the yttria containing nanocomposite was observed.