High mechanical efficiency, microstructure evaluation and texture of rheo-casted and extruded AZ80-Ca alloy reinforced with processed Al2O3/GNPs hybrid reinforcement

Abstract

In this study, Mg based nanocomposite reinforced with nano alumina and graphene nano-platelets as hybrid reinforcement was fabricated by rheo casting followed by hot extrusion at 450 °C. Microstructure investigations showed that in comparison with the base alloy, addition of hybrid reinforcement has significant effects on grain refining (up to ∼ 44%), decrease of area percent of eutectic phase (up to ∼ 38%), evaluation of dynamic precipitations morphology and decrease of basal texture (up to ∼ 23%). Mechanical properties results showed that fabricated nanocomposite exhibits simultaneously enhancement of micro-hardness (∼ 33% increase), tensile and compressive yield strengths (∼ 27% and 12% increase, respectively), ultimate tensile and compressive strengths (∼ 33% and 10% increase, respectively), and tensile and compressive fracture strains (∼ 42% and 13% increase, respectively). Simultaneous enhancement of strength and ductility in the nanocomposite introduced this hybrid reinforcement as the new class of reinforcements with higher performance.