The Microstructure, Hardness and Density Investigation of Mg Composites Reinforced with Nanoclay

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Magnesium (Mg) stands out as a prevalent material in engineering, finding essential utility as a biomaterial due to its unique combination of low density, stiffness, high damping capacity, superior bending resistance, and impressive specific strength. Despite its high reactivity and somewhat inadequate mechanical properties for rigorous engineering applications, the incorporation of reinforcing nanoparticles has shown significant potential in enhancing the performance of magnesium-based composites. This study investigates the microstructure evaluation, hardness, and density of magnesium composites reinforced with nanoclay using a powder metallurgy approach. Nanoclay was preferred as a reinforcement element at weight percentages of 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%. The densities of the composites were measured using the Archimedean principle, revealing that the addition of nanoclay generally increases the density of the composites due to the higher density of nanoclay compared to pure magnesium. However, the composite with 5% nanoclay exhibited a lower density than the one with 3% nanoclay, likely due to agglomerations leading to increased internal voids. Surface preparation for Vickers hardness testing involved sanding with 600, 1000, and 2000 mesh sanders, followed by polishing with 6μ and 3μ diamond suspensions. Hardness measurements, conducted using an AOB Vickers microhardness tester, indicated that the highest hardness value was observed in the composite with a 7% weight percentage of nanoclay, demonstrating that nanoclay addition enhances hardness. However, the composite with 3% nanoclay showed lower hardness compared to other reinforced composites. Optical images of the structures revealed metallographic spots indicative of contamination. These findings contribute to the understanding of the structural and mechanical behavior of nanoclay-reinforced magnesium composites, highlighting the potential for optimizing such materials for various applications in automotive, aerospace, and medical fields.