Development of nano-Y2O3 containing magnesium nanocomposites using solidification processing

In the present study, nano-Y2O3 particulates containing magnesium nanocomposites were synthesized using an innovative disintegrated melt deposition technique followed by hot extrusion. Microstructural characterization of the composite samples showed retention of reinforcement, significant grain refinement of magnesium matrix, and the presence of minimal porosity. Mechanical properties characterization revealed that the presence of nano-Y2O3 reinforcement lead to significant improvement in hardness, 0.2% YS and UTS of the magnesium matrix. The ductility of magnesium matrix increases to a peak with 0.22-vol% of nano-Y2O3 but started to reduce with subsequent increase in the amount of Y2O3. The results further revealed that the combination of 0.2% YS, UTS, and ductility of magnesium matrix with up to 0.66-vol% of nano-Y2O3 reinforcement remained much superior even when compared to magnesium reinforced with much higher volume percentage of micrometer size SiC. An attempt is made in the present study to correlate the effect of nano-Y2O3 as reinforcement and its increasing amount with the microstructural and mechanical properties of magnesium. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.