Fracture Analysis and Mechanical Properties of Magnesium Based Composites

Abstract

Mechanical properties and microstructure and fracture analysis of a magnesium alloys based composite series with different volume fraction of alumina dispersoid nanoparticles were studied. The initial states of the composites were further treated by severe plastic deformation (SPD) using equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) in order to achieve microstructures with very fine grains of matrix. Microstructure parameters, in particular the matrix grain size, average size of the dispersed particles and their distribution, were observed using optical microscopy. The average grain sizes of MMCs decreased evidently with the increase of the weight percentage of Al2O3 particles additions and ECAP passes. The heat deformation process of such materials, besides the formation of incorporated Al2O3 particles, also leads to the creation of intermetallic compound Mg17Al12. Fracture surfaces after tensile tests at room and elevated temperature were studied by SEM. The fracture of studying materials were characterized as the ductile fracture due to the existence of a large number of dimples.In summary, it has been shown that mechanical properties are affected by lattice, physical parameters of phases within the composite systems. They are also affected by microstructure and substructure, which depend on the technology of compaction and densification.