Due to their excellent properties such as high specific stiffness, strength/weight ratio, and wear resistance, metal matrix composites (MMCs) with particulate reinforcement and related manufacturing methods have become important research topics in recent years. Magnesium MMCs are materials that are commonly used for fabrication of light-weight functional components. Magnesium MMCs that are reinforced with various fractions of B4C (3, 6, and 9 wt.%) were fabricated by powder metallurgy (PM) technique using a sintering cycle in a vacuum furnace at 590°C for 9 h. A qualitative analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated the formation of Al2O3, MgO, and MgB2 phases in the structure of Mg/B4C MMCs. The sintered density of the MMCs decreased with an increase in the amount of B4C addition. The hardness of the MMCs was found to be higher than that of unreinforced Mg. The compressive test results also showed a significant effect of 3 wt.% B4C content on the compressive strength of magnesium MMCs manufactured by the PM technique.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. D. P. LaDelpha, H. Neubing, and D. P. Bishop, “Metallurgical assessment of an emerging Al–Zn–Mg– Cu P/M alloy,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A Struct., 520, 105–113 (2009).
S. Y. Chang, S. J. Cho, S. K. Hong, et al., “Microstructure and tensile properties of Bi-materials with macro-interface between unreinforced magnesium and composite,” J. Alloys Compd., 316, 275–279 (2001).
S. Jayalakshmi, S. V. Kailas, and S. Seshan, “Tensile behavior of squeeze cast AM100 magnesium alloy and its Al2O3 fiber reinforced composites,” Compos. Part A Appl., 33, 1135–1140 (2002).
S. F. Hassan and M. Gupta, “Development of a novel magnesium/nickel composite with improved mechanical properties,” J. Alloys Compd., 335, 10–15 (2002).
M. Y. Zheng, K. Wu and C. K. Yao, “Effect of interfacial reaction on mechanical behavior of SiCw/AZ91 magnesium matrix composites,” Mat. Sci. Eng. A Struct., 318, 50–56 (2001).
Q. C. Jiang, H. Y. Wang, B. X. Ma, et al., “Fabrication of B4C particulate reinforced magnesium matrix composite by powder metallurgy,” J. Alloys Compd., 386, 177–181 (2005).
S. F. Hassan and M. Gupta, “Development of a novel magnesium ± copper based composite with improved mechanical properties,” Mater. Res. Bull., 37, 377–389 (2002).
E. Ayman, K. Katsuyoshi, I. Hisashi, et al., “Effect of different La additions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hot extruded SWAP Mg–Al–Zn–Ca powder,” Trans. JWRI., 38, 19–23 (2009).
L. G. Wang, B. F. Zhang, S. J. Zhu, et al., “Effects of silicocalcium on microstructure and properties of Mg–6Al–0.5Mn alloy,” Trans. Nonferr. Met. Soc., 16, 551–555 (2006).
S. K. Sinha, S. U. Reddy, and M. Gupta, “Scratch hardness and mechanical property correlation for Mg/SiC and Mg/SiC/Ti metal–matrix composites,” Tribol. Int., 39, 184–189 (2006).
K. K. Deng, K. Wu, Y. W. Wu, et al., “Effect of submicron size SiC particulates on microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ91 magnesium matrix composites,” J. Alloys Compd., 504, 542–547 (2010).
P. Poddar, V. C. Srivastava, P. K. De, et al., “Processing and mechanical properties of SiC reinforced cast magnesium matrix composites by stir casting process,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 460, 357–364 (2007).
L. Falcon-Franco, E. Bedolla-Becerril, J. Lemus-Ruiz, et al., “Wear performance of TiC as reinforcement of a magnesium alloy matrix composite,” Compos. Part B Eng., 42, 275–279 (2011).
Q. C. Jiang, X. L. Li, and H. Y. Wang, “Fabrication of TiC particulate reinforced magnesium matrix composites,” Scripta Mater., 48, 713–717 (2003).
H. Y. Wang, Q. C. Jiang, Y. Q. Zhao, et al., “Fabrication of TiB2 and TiB2–TiC particulates reinforced magnesium matrix composites,” Mat. Sci. Eng. A Struct., 372, 109–114 (2004).
X. Q. Zhang, H. W. Wang, L. H. Liao, et al., “The mechanical properties of magnesium matrix composites reinforced with (TiB2 + TiC) ceramic particulates,” Mater Lett., 59, 2105–2109 (2005).
J. M. Torralba, C. E. da Costa, and F. Velasco, “P/M aluminum matrix composites: an overview,” J. Mater. Process. Technol., 133, 203–206 (2003).
P. Burke, Investigation of the Sintering Fundamentals of Magnesium Powder, PhD Thesis, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia (2011).
V. Kevorkijian and S. D. Skapin, “Characterization of Mg-B(4)C composites with a high volume fraction of fine ceramic reinforcement fabricated by pressureless infiltration of porous ceramic preforms,” JOM, 42, 35–47 (2010).
R. M. Mohanty, K. Balasubramanian, and S. K. Seshadri, “Boron carbide reinforced aluminum matrix composites: fabrication and properties,” Mat. Sci. Eng. A Struct., 498, 42–52 (2008).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, Vol. 51, No. 7–8 (486), pp. 102–109, 2012.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guleryuz, L.F., Ozan, S., Uzunsoy, D. et al. An investigation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of B4C reinforced PM magnesium matrix composites. Powder Metall Met Ceram 51, 456–462 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11106-012-9455-9
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11106-012-9455-9