Enhancing overall tensile behavior or ductility of AZ91D using nano-Al 2O3 and heat treatment

Abstract

In the current study, magnesium based nanocomposites containing 1 and 1.5 vol.% alumina particulates as reinforcement were synthesized using a disintegrated melt deposition technique. Microstructural characterization of the composite materials revealed uniform distribution of Al2O 3, good interfacial integrity between the matrix and reinforcement and presence of limited porosity. Mechanical properties characterization results revealed that the presence of nano- -Al2O3 reinforcement led to an improvement in hardness, 0.2 % yield strength, UTS, ductility and work of fracture. Solutionizing heat treatment carried out at a temperature of 413°C for 2 h led to a significant enhancement in ductility of the nanocomposites (31 % ductility exhibited by AZ91D/1.5 Al2O 3). This study clearly reveals the ability of Al2O 3 particulates and solutionizing heat treatment to vary the tensile response of AZ91D/Al2O3 nanocomposites enabling them to be used in a wide spectrum of engineering applications.