Processing and characterization of magnesium based composites

Abstract

Magnesium is the lightest of all light metal alloys and hence is an excellent alternate material for various engineering pplications where the weight of the material is a critical design parameter. It is encompassed with properties like very high strength, good heat dissipation, very good damping characteristics and availability. It has other properties such as easy to weld, forge, cast or machine and also good formability. Magnesium is the third most commonly used structural metal, following iron and aluminium. In this research work, an attempt has been made to investigate the mechanical properties of Magnesium based metal matrix composites manufactured through stir casting route. Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3) of 5 weight percentages each were used as hybrid reinforcing agent in Magnesium matrix material for fabricating the composite. SiC is used as reinforcement due to its properties like high melting point, excellent thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion and very good thermal shock resistance. Alumina is a ceramic materials possessed with electrical insulation property along with very high thermal conductivity property. FSP has been carried out on the surface to study the effect of FSP on the surfacial properties of the pure Magnesium and AZ91 based hybrid composites. Friction Stir Processing (FSP) is a solid state processing technique that has unique capabilities like low amount of heat generation, extensive plastic flow of material, achieving very fine microstructure in the stirred region, healing of flaws and reducing porosity. FSP offers the ability to tailor properties locally within a structure. newline