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Experimental and Theoretical Yield Strength of Silicon Carbide and Hexagonal Boron Nitride Reinforced Mg-Zn Nanocomposites Produced by the Combined Effects of Ultrasonication and Squeeze Casting

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Abstract

In this work, an attempt has been made to fabricate novel hybrid nanocomposites from Mg-Zn-Yttrium (traceable) alloy with 1.0 wt. percent nano-SiCP (fixed) and 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt. percent nano-hBNP as reinforcing particles. The combined effect of stir-ultrasonication and squeeze casting was applied to mix the nanoparticles in the Mg matrix. The nanocomposite samples were heat-treated at T5 condition. Optical microscopy evaluates the refined grains. SEM pictures represent the uniform nanoparticle dispersion in the Mg matrix. As compared with base alloy, higher dislocation density is observed in the nanocomposite samples which were confirmed by the TEM images. XRD validates the occurrence of SiC and BN phases in the hybrid nanocomposites. The combination of 1.0 wt% SiCP and 1.5 wt% hBNP reinforced hybrid nanocomposite show 31% more microhardness and 42% more tensile strength than the base alloy. Various strengthening models employed to assess the influence of nanoparticles on yield strength, which were then, compared to the experimental yield strength values. Experimental and theoretical yield strength values were found to be in closer agreement.

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This work is part of the ongoing research work. All the data required for this work is included in the manuscript itself.

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Acknowledgements

(i) The authors acknowledge the financial and facility support (Grant number: CRG/2018/001006) provided by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt. of India.

(ii) The authors acknowledge the facility support (Grant number: EEQ/2017/000382) by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt. of India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, A K T Memorial College of Engineering and Technology, Kallakurichi, Tamilnadu, India

    K. Parthiban

  2. Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

    Poovazhagan Lakshmanan

  3. Departments of Industrial Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

    A. Gnanavelbabu

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  1. K. Parthiban
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  2. Poovazhagan Lakshmanan
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  3. A. Gnanavelbabu
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Contributions

Parthiban K – Materials procurement, Experimental works, Manuscript preparations, Testing and Characterizations.

Poovazhagan Lakshmanan – Supervising the work, Manuscript corrections, Similarity checking and Corrections.

Gnanavelbabu A – Provided facilities for experimentations, Experimental work – Supervising.

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Correspondence to Poovazhagan Lakshmanan.

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Parthiban, K., Lakshmanan, P. & Gnanavelbabu, A. Experimental and Theoretical Yield Strength of Silicon Carbide and Hexagonal Boron Nitride Reinforced Mg-Zn Nanocomposites Produced by the Combined Effects of Ultrasonication and Squeeze Casting. Silicon 14, 8993–9007 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-022-01679-7

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