Selective enhancement of tensile/compressive strength and ductility of AZ31 magnesium alloy via nano-AL2O3 reinforcement integration method alteration

Abstract

Two new AZ31 nanocomposites containing Al2O3 nanoparticle reinforcement were fabricated with different reinforcement integration methods using solidification processing followed by hot extrusion. Each nanocomposite had similar composition (Al and Zn contents), microstructure (grain and intermetallic particle sizes, Al2O3 nanoparticle distribution) and hardness. However, the first nanocomposite had better overall tensile properties compared to the second nanocomposite. Also, the second nanocomposite exhibited better overall compressive properties compared to the first nanocomposite. On the whole, the second nanocomposite was more deformable in tension and compression than the first nanocomposite. The effect of reinforcement integration method on the tensile and compressive properties of the AZ31-Al2O3 nanocomposites is investigated in this paper. © (2009) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.