An investigation into the effect of ball milling of reinforcement on the enhanced mechanical response of magnesium

Abstract

Magnesium composites containing as-received and ball-milled (B) Al particles were synthesized through powder metallurgy route using microwave-assisted rapid sintering technique followed by hot extrusion. Microstructural characterization revealed fairly uniform distribution of both as-received and ball-milled (up to 1.626 vol.%) Al particles in the matrix and reduction in average matrix grain size. Compared to monolithic Mg, Mg/Al, and Mg/Al (B) composites exhibited significantly higher strengths and failure strains. The results revealed that strength and failure strain (up to 1.626 vol.% Al) of composites containing ball-milled Al particles remained higher compared to composites containing as-received Al particles. Compared to monolithic Mg, Mg/1.626Al (B) composite exhibited the best mechanical properties improvement with an increase of 78%, 79%, 87%, and 225%, in 0.2%YS, UTS, failure strain and WOF, respectively, while for Mg/1.626Al composite, the improvement was 51%, 53%, 65% and 142%, respectively. The effects of as-received and ball-milled Al particles contribution on the enhancement of mechanical properties of Mg is investigated in this article. © 2011 The Author(s).