Production and Assessment of AZ91 Reinforced with Nano SiC through Stir Casting Process

Magnesium, a light weight alloy used in multiple engineering industrial applications because of its good Physical, Chemical and Thermal characteristics. Magnesium composites play an important role in partial or entire replacement of numerous alloys.This current work deals with Nano silicon carbide of about 100nm was incorporated with AZ91magnesium alloy through liquid state composite processing. Two samples are made using 0% Nano SiC and 3% Nano SiC and are characterized through tensile test in Universal Testing Machine, Micro hardness test in Vickers hardness tester and Microstructure in Optical Microscopy. From the study it was clear that there is a peak increase in hardness of about 36% when compared to as casted AZ91.

Development of Specially Reinforced Magnesium Composites Prepared by Squeeze Casting Process

A wide range of opportunities in the field of automotive and structural applications are being offered by Magnesium matrix composites because of their enhanced mechanical properties. Magnesium alloys based Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) are the best candidates for lightweight structural applications due to their improved creep properties. In the present study, three specimens of specially reinforced magnesium composites were manufactured by using the squeeze casting process. Specimen 1 has a composition of 7 % aluminum alloy in addition to 1% zinc and the composition of reinforcement is Titanium Carbide 0.3 % in addition to 1.5% Carbon nanotubes. Specimen 2 has a composition of 12 % aluminum alloy in addition to 1 % zinc and the composition of reinforcement is 2% B_4 C in addition to 2 % Carbon nanotubes. Specimen 3 has a composition of 14 % aluminum alloy in addition to 1 % zinc and the composition of reinforcement is 2 % B_4 C in addition to 2 % Carbon nanotubes. The mechanical properties analysis showed that specimen 2 has a higher hardness value in comparison to other manufactured specimens and it was also observed that specimen 2 possesses a higher tensile strength value in comparison to the other two specimens. Microstructure analysis shows that there was a uniform distribution of the reinforcements in the matrix. So it can be inferred that this uniform distribution causes higher hardness and higher tensile strength in the manufactured specimens.

Enhanced mechanical properties of carbon nanotube-reinforced magnesium composites with zirconia fabricated by spark plasma sintering

This study aims to enhance carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced magnesium (Mg) matrix composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Ultrasonic treatment with organic solvent (DMAc) and dispersant (K2CO3) were used for the processes to make each CNT apart. Nano-order ceramic powders of zirconia (ZrO2) were found to be effective to keep uniform dispersion of CNT in Mg matrix. Low melting point metals such as Sn were added to fill voids and cracks in the composites. Post-SPS rolling was also employed aiming to improve the microstructures. The fabricated CNT-reinforced Mg composites were investigated on mechanical properties such as hardness and three-point bending strength to be related to the microstructures.