Skip to main content
Log in

Microstructure and mechanical properties of fine-grained TiB2/AZ31 composites prepared via powder metallurgy

  • Article
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, the fine-grained TiB2/AZ31 composites with different TiB2 additions were successfully fabricated via powder metallurgy, which exhibited the simultaneous improvement of strength and ductility. The average grain size of these TiB2/AZ31 composites could reach below 2.5 μm, which also achieved the low porosity and high hardness. Tensile test results indicated that AZ31-5wt%TiB2 composites exhibited the best comprehensive mechanical properties at room and elevated temperatures. The yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and elongation (EL) of AZ31-5wt%TiB2 could reach 219 MPa, 312 MPa, and 15.5% at room temperature, while the YS, UTS, and EL at 300 °C increased by 18.0%, 19.5%, and 156.4% compared with AZ31. The grain refinement played a dominant role in simultaneous improvement of strength and ductility. Besides that, the fracture mechanism of the AZ31-5wt%TiB2 composites at both room temperature and elevated temperature showed ductile fracture.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The raw data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also form part of an ongoing study.

References

  1. T.J. Lee, W.J. Kim, Microstructure and tensile properties of magnesium nanocomposites fabricated using magnesium chips and carbon black. J. Magnes. Alloys 8, 860–872 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. D. Penther, A. Ghasemi, R. Riedel, C. Fleck, S. Kamrani, Effect of SiC nanoparticles on manufacturing process, microstructure and hardness of Mg-SiC nanocomposites produced by mechanical milling and hot extrusion. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 738, 264–272 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. K. Nie, Y. Guo, K. Deng, X. Kang, High strength TiCp/Mg-Zn-Ca magnesium matrix nanocomposites with improved formability at low temperature. J. Alloys Compd. 792, 267–278 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. N.Q. Cao, K. Narita, E. Kobayashi, T. Sato, Evolution of the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-matrix in situ composites during spark plasma sintering. Powder Metall. 59, 302–307 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. X. Sun, M. Chen, D. Liu, Fabrication and characterization of few-layer graphene oxide reinforced magnesium matrix composites. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 803, 140722 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. K.K. Deng, X.J. Wang, Y.W. Wu, X.S. Hu, K. Wu, W.M. Gan, Effect of particle size on microstructure and mechanical properties of SiCp/AZ91 magnesium matrix composite. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 543, 158–163 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. A. Erman, J. Groza, X. Li, H. Choi, G. Cao, Nanoparticle effects in cast Mg-1wt% SiC nano-composites. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 558, 39–43 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Paramsothy, Q.B. Nguyen, K.S. Tun, J. Chan, R. Kwok, J. Kuma, M. Gupta, Mechanical property retention in remelted microparticle to nanoparticle AZ31/Al2O3 composites. J. Alloys Compd. 506, 600–606 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Q.B. Nguyen, M. Gupta, Enhancing compressive response of AZ31B magnesium alloy using alumina nanoparticulates. Compos. Sci. Technol. 68, 2185–2192 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Sankaranarayanan, U.P. Nayak, R.K. Sabat, S. Suwas, A. Almajid, M. Gupta, Nano-ZnO particle addition to monolithic magnesium for enhanced tensile and compressive response. J. Alloys Compd. 615, 211–219 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. P. Xiao, M.G. Yi, X.X. Fei, S.Y. Sha, B. Li, F.H. Zhi, L.Z. Qiao, An investigation on grain refinement mechanism of TiB2 particulate reinforced AZ91 composites and its effect on mechanical properties. J. Alloys Compd. 780, 237–244 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. H. Zhou, C. Zhang, B. Han, J. Qiu, S. Qin, K. Gao, J. Liu, S. Sun, H. Zhang, Microstructures and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline AZ31 magnesium alloy powders with submicron TiB2 additions prepared by mechanical milling. Curr. Comput.-Aided Drug Des. 10, 550 (2020)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. X. Peng, Y. Gao, X. Yang, F. Xu, C. Yang, L. Bo, Y. Li, Z. Liu, Q. Zheng, Processing, microstructure and ageing behavior of in-situ submicron TiB2 particles reinforced AZ91 Mg matrix composites. J. Alloys Compd. 764, 96–106 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. S.K. Sahoo, B.N. Sahoo, S.K. Panigrahi, Effect of in-situ sub-micron sized TiB2 reinforcement on microstructure and mechanical properties in ZE41 magnesium matrix composites. Mater. Sci. Eng. 773, 138883 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. C. Fang, L. Wang, H. Hao, X. Zhang, Distribution of TiB2 reinforcements in magnesium matrix composites by a multi-physical coupling field. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 214, 551–555 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. H. Yu, Y. Xin, Y. Xin, Q. Liu, Hall-Petch relationship in Mg alloys: A review. J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 34, 248–256 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. W. Yuan, S.K. Panigrahi, J.Q. Su, R.S. Mishra, Influence of grain size and texture on Hall-Petch relationship for a magnesium alloy. Scripta Mater. 65, 994–997 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. H. Yu, H. Zhou, Y. Sun, L. Ren, Z. Wan, L. Hu, Microstructures and mechanical properties of ultrafine-grained Ti/AZ31 magnesium matrix composite prepared by powder metallurgy. Adv. Powder Technol. 29, 3241–3249 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. H. Muramatsu, K. Kondoh, E. Yuasa, T. Aizawa, Mechanical properties of Mg2Si/Mg composites via powder metallurgy process. JSME Int. J. 46, 247–250 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. M.J. Shen, T. Ying, F.Y. Chen, J.M. Hou, Microstructural analysis and mechanical properties of the Az31B matrix cast composites containing micron SiC particles. Int. J. Metalcast. 11, 1–7 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Q.H. Yuan, Z.Q. Qiu, G.H. Zhou, X.S. Zeng, L. Luo, X.X. Rao, Y. Ding, Y. Liu, Interfacial design and strengthening mechanisms of AZ91 alloy reinforced with in-situ reduced graphene oxide. Mater. Charact. 138, 215–228 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. K.B. Nie, X.J. Wang, K.K. Deng, X.S. Hu, K. Wu, Magnesium matrix composite reinforced by nanoparticles—a review. J. Magnes. Alloys 9, 57–77 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. H. Choi, Y. Sun, B.P. Slater, H. Konishi, X. Li, AZ91D/TiB2 nanocomposites fabricated by solidification nanoprocessing. Adv. Eng. Mater. 14, 291–295 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. S. Wu, S. Wang, D. Wen, G. Wang, Y. Wang, Microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium matrix composites interpenetrated by different reinforcement. Appl. Sci. 8, 2012 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. M.J. Shen, X.J. Wang, T. Ying, K. Wu, W.J. Song, Characteristics and mechanical properties of magnesium matrix composites reinforced with micron/submicron/nano SiC particles. J. Alloys Compd. 686, 831–840 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. J. Wang, L. Liu, C. Tomé, S.X. Mao, S.K. Gong, Twinning and de-twinning via glide and climb of twinning dislocations along serrated coherent twin boundaries in hexagonal-close-packed metals. Mater. Res. Lett. 1, 81–88 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. L. Guo, Z. Chen, G. Li, Effects of grain size, texture and twinning on mechanical properties and work-hardening behavior of AZ31 magnesium alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 528, 8537–8545 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. H. Zhang, K. Zhang, Z. Lu, C. Zhao, X. Yang, Hot deformation behavior and processing map of a γ′-hardened nickel-based superalloy. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 604, 1–8 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. P. Xiao, Y. Gao, C. Yang, Z. Liu, Y. Li, F. Xu, Microstructure, mechanical properties and strengthening mechanisms of Mg matrix composites reinforced with in situ nanosized TiB2 particles. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 710, 251–259 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. G.K. Meenashisundaram, S. Seetharaman, M. Gupta, Enhancing overall tensile and compressive response of pure Mg using nano-TiB2 particulates. Mater. Charact. 94, 178–188 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. P. Li, W. Tan, M. Gao, K. Shi, Strengthening of the magnesium matrix composites hybrid reinforced by chemically oxidized carbon nanotubes and in situ Mg2Sip. J. Alloys Compd. 858, 157673 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. F. Aydin, Y. Sun, M.E. Turan, The effect of TiB2 content on wear and mechanical behavior of AZ91 magnesium matrix composites produced by powder metallurgy. Powder Metall. Metal Ceram. (2019).

  33. M. Hu, S. Wei, Q. Shi, Z. Ji, Y. Wang, Dynamic recrystallization behavior and mechanical properties of bimodal scale Al2O3 reinforced AZ31 composites by soild state synthesis. J. Magnes. Alloys 8, 841–848 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. S.J. Huang, M. Subramani, D.B. Alemayehu, A. Negash, D. Alemayehu, The effect of micro-SiCp content on the tensile and fatigue behavior of AZ61 magnesium alloy matrix composites. Int. J. Metalcast. (2020).

  35. K. Ponappa, S. Aravindan, P.V. Rao, Influence of Y2O3 particles on mechanical properties of magnesium and magnesium alloy (AZ91D). J. Compos. Mater. 47, 1231–1239 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. M. Rashad, F. Pan, M. Asif, A. Tang, Powder metallurgy of Mg–1%Al–1%Sn alloy reinforced with low content of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). J. Ind. Eng. Chem. 20, 4250–4255 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. H. Xu, Z. Yang, M. Hu, Z. Ji, Effect of short carbon fiber content on SCFs/AZ31 composite microstructure and mechanical properties. Result Phys 17, 103074 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. W. Yu, X. Wang, H. Zhao, C. Ding, Z. Huang, H. Zhai, Z. Guo, S. Xiong, Microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture mechanism of Ti2AlC reinforced AZ91D composites fabricated by stir casting. J. Alloys Compd. 702, 199–208 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. F. Mokdad, D.L. Chen, Z.Y. Liu, B.L. Xiao, D.R. Ni, Z.Y. Ma, Deformation and strengthening mechanisms of a carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composite. Carbon 104, 64–77 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. B. Kbna, A. Zhz, B. Kkda, A. Jgh, Influence of extrusion parameters on microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of a low Mn and high-Ca containing Mg-2.9Zn-1.1Ca-0.5Mn magnesium alloy. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 9 (2020) 5264–5277.

  41. W. Miao, Z. Yu, L.D. Wang, Y.P. Zhu, X.J. Wang, S. Jie, Z.Y. Yang, H.L. Shi, Z.D. Shi, W.D. Fei, Achieving high strength and ductility in graphene/magnesium composite via an in-situ reaction wetting process. Carbon 139, 954–963 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. H. Wu, Z. Shan, J. Fan, Q. Zhang, B. Xu, Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiCp/AZ91 composite processed with extrusion and EPT. Mater. Sci. Technol. 37, 269–279 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. X. Sun, C. Li, X. Dai, L. Zhao, J. Fan, Microstructures and properties of graphene-nanoplatelet-reinforced magnesium-matrix composites fabricated by an in situ reaction process. J. Alloys Compd. 835, 155125 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. X. Sun, C. Li, X. Dai, L. Zhao, B. Li, H. Wang, C. Liang, H. Li, J. Fan, Microstructures and properties of graphene-nanoplatelet-reinforced magnesium-matrix composites fabricated by an in situ reaction process. J. Alloys Compd. 835, 155125 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. K.B. Nie, K.K. Deng, X.J. Wang, T. Wang, K. Wu, Influence of SiC nanoparticles addition on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of AZ91 alloy during isothermal multidirectional forging. Mater. Charact. 124, 14–24 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. L. Jian, G. Shuwen, W. Wuxiao, Effects of ultrasonic treatment and nanoparticles addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of AS41A magnesium alloy. Integr. Ferroelectr. 210, 59–64 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Z. Ren, X.G. Zhang, L. Sui, T. Zhang, L. Pang, J.Z. Jin, Fabrication of ZrB2 particles reinforced AZ31 magnesium matrix composite by powder metallurgy and subsequent hot extrusion. Mater. Res. Innov. 14, 206–209 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. A. Alizadeh, H. Jafari, R. Rahmany-Gorji, Microstructure and mechanical properties of stir cast ZX51/Al(2)O(3)p magnesium matrix composites. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 674, 413–418 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. T. Homma, S. Nakawaki, K. Oh-Ishi, K. Hono, S. Kamado, Unexpected influence of Mn addition on the creep properties of a cast Mg–2Al–2Ca (mass%) alloy. Acta Mater. 59, 7662–7672 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. N. Ayer, Effect of die parameters on the grain size, mechanical properties and fracture mechanism of extruded AZ31 magnesium alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 793, 139887 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51804187, 51804091, and 51904176), Project funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2019M662400), Project of Shandong Province Higher Educational Young Innovative Talent Introduction and Cultivation [Team Performance enhancement of deep coal mining equipment], and Qingdao post-doctoral researcher applied research programs.

Funding

Funding was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Numbers 51904176, 51804187, 51804091).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hongbin Zhang.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 10682 kb).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhou, H., Lu, Y., Deng, N. et al. Microstructure and mechanical properties of fine-grained TiB2/AZ31 composites prepared via powder metallurgy. Journal of Materials Research 37, 1520–1533 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-022-00565-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-022-00565-7

Keywords

Navigation