Effects of Sintering Conditions on the Mechanical Properties of Alumina Particle Dispersed Magnesium SPS Compacts

Abstract

To enhance the mechanical properties of Mg alloys, 0-30vol% Al2O3/Mg powders were formed by ball milling powder mixtures of pure Mg and Al2O3 particles, and then Spark plasma sintering (SPS) compacts (Al2O3/Mg discs) were made by the Al2O3/Mg powders. The effect of the cooling conditions in the SPS process on the mechanical properties of the Al2O3/Mg discs was investigated. From the results of SEM, XRD and TEM-EDS, the microstructures of the Al2O3/Mg discs were identified to consist of α-Mg solid solution, Al2O3 particles, refined MgO particles and refined needle-like Mg17Al12 ( more than 20vol% Al2O3 content). The mechanical properties of the discs were able to control by the regulation of the cooling conditions (cooling rate (vc) and applied pressure in the cooling (pc)) in SPS process, and as a result, the SPS discs possessing the mechanical properties beyond HP compacts were obtained under the cooling conditions of “vc= 0.83K/sand pc = 20MPa”. Main factor that the cooling conditions in SPS process effect on the mechanical properties of the Al2O3/Mg discs are considered to be the compresive residual stress generated in the α - Mg solid solution by the thermal stress associated with deference of the coefficients of thermal expansion between the α - Mg and ceramics particles (Al2O3 and MgO) in the discs.