Seetharaman, S.Subramanian, J.Tun, K.S.Hamouda, A.S.Gupta, M.MECHANICAL ENGINEERING2014-06-172014-06-172013Seetharaman, S., Subramanian, J., Tun, K.S., Hamouda, A.S., Gupta, M. (2013). Synthesis and characterization of nano boron nitride reinforced magnesium composites produced by the microwave sintering method. Materials 6 (5) : 1940-1955. ScholarBank@NUS Repository. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma605194019961944https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/61449In this study, magnesium composites with nano-size boron nitride (BN) particulates of varying contents were synthesized using the powder metallurgy (PM) technique incorporating microwave-assisted two-directional sintering followed by hot extrusion. The effect of nano-BN addition on the microstructural and the mechanical behavior of the developed Mg/BN composites were studied in comparison with pure Mg using the structure-property correlation. Microstructural characterization revealed uniform distribution of nano-BN particulates and marginal grain refinement. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) value of the magnesium matrix was improved with the addition of nano-sized BN particulates. The results of XRD studies indicate basal texture weakening with an increase in nano-BN addition. The composites showed improved mechanical properties measured under micro-indentation, tension and compression loading. While the tensile yield strength improvement was marginal, a significant increase in compressive yield strength was observed. This resulted in the reduction of tension-compression yield asymmetry and can be attributed to the weakening of the strong basal texture. © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Mechanical propertiesMetal matrix compositesMicrostructureMicrowave sinteringScanning electron microscopyX-ray diffractionArticle000319440600024