Fabrication and characterization of hybrid WE43 Mg alloy-based composite by friction stir processing with improved ductility

In the present study, WE43 magnesium alloy-based hybrid composite was fabricated by using multi-pass friction stir processing (FSP) to enhance the applicability of Mg alloys in aerial and automotive industries limited due to its lower ductility. Microstructural characterization of the double pass processed composite sample analyzed through optical microscopy and SEM-EDS revealed a more homogenous distribution of reinforcement particles (Ti, Al & Sn) with significant grain refinement (avg. grain size = 3.5um) as compared to that of base alloy (avg. grain size = 63um). Mechanical properties investigation revealed that the addition of reinforcement particles and an increased number of passes in processing resulted in enhanced microhardness and UTS with significant improvement in ductility. The percentage elongation of double pass fabricated composite was found to be 32.7%, marking an enhancement of 83% in ductility as compared to that of the substrate alloy.