Development of Mg Alloy AM60‐based Hybrid Nano‐Composites Reinforced with Nano Al2O3 or

189 Pages·2017·9.37 MB·English

by  Junxiang Zhou

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Electronic Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Major Papers
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Junxiang Zhou
University of Windsor
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd
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Zhou, Junxiang, "Development of Mg Alloy AM60‐based Hybrid Nano‐Composites Reinforced with Nano
Al2O3 or AlN Particles and Micron Al2O3 Fibres" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 7312.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/7312
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Development of Mg Alloy AM60‐based Hybrid Nano‐Composites Reinforced
with Nano Al O or AlN Particles and Micron Al O Fibres
2 3 2 3

By
Junxiang Zhou

A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
Through the Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
The Degree of Master of Applied Science
At the University of Windsor

Windsor, Ontario, Canada
2017
© 2017 Junxiang Zhou
Development of Mg Alloy AM60‐based Hybrid Nano‐Composites Reinforced
with Nano Al O or AlN Particles and Micron Al O Fibres
2 3 2 3
By
Junxiang Zhou

APPROVED BY:

______________________________________________
T. Bolisetti
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

______________________________________________
R. Riahi
Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering

______________________________________________
H. Hu, Advisor
Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering

September 12, 2017
DECLARATION OF CO-AUTHORSHIP / PREVIOUS PUBLICATION
I. Co-Authorship
I hereby declare that this thesis incorporates material that is result of joint research. In all
cases, the key ideas, primary contributions, experimental designs, data analysis and
interpretation, were performed by the author and Dr. H. Hu as advisor. Chapter 3 was co-
authored with Xuezhi Zhang, Li Fang. Xuezhi Zhang and Li Fang both contributed in bulk
samples preparations. Chapter 4 and 5 were co-authored with Luyang Ren, Xingyu Geng, and Li
Fang. Luyang Ren, Xingyu Geng, and Li Fang all contributed to bulk samples preparations. I
certify that, with the above qualification, this dissertation, and the research to which it refers, is
the product of my own work.
I am aware of the University of Windsor Senate Policy on Authorship and I certify that I
have properly acknowledged the contribution of other researchers to my thesis, and have
obtained written permission from each of the co-author(s) to include the above material(s) in my
thesis.
I certify that, with the above qualification, this thesis, and the research to which it refers, is
the product of my own work.

II. Previous Publication
III
This thesis includes 3 original papers that have been previously published/submitted for
publication in peer reviewed journals, as follows:
Thesis Chapter Publication title/full citation Publication status*
Chapter 3 Junxiang Zhou, Xuezhi Zhang, Li Fang, Henry Published
Hu, Processing and properties of as-cast
magnesium AM60-based composite containing
alumina nano particles and micron fibres,
Magnesium Technology 2017, Part of the
series The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
573-578, 2017 Annual Meeting & Exhibition,
February 26- March 2, 2017, San Diego, CA,
USA.
Chapter 4 Junxiang Zhou, Luyang Ren, Xinyu Geng, Li Revision Requested
Fang and Henry Hu, As-cast Magnesium
AM60-Based Hybrid Nanocomposite
Containing Alumina Fibres and Nanoparticles:
Microstructure and Tensile Behavior, Materials
Science & Engineering A, August, 2017
Chapter 5 Junxiang Zhou, Luyang Ren, Xinyu Geng, Li Prepared
Fang and Henry Hu, Microstructure and
Tensile Properties of Cast Magnesium AM60-
Based Hybrid Nanocomposites Reinforced
With Al O Fibres and Al O or AlN
2 3 2 3
Nanoparticles
I certify that I have obtained a written permission from the copyright owner(s) to include
the above published material(s) in my thesis. I certify that the above material describes work
completed during my registration as a graduate student at the University of Windsor.
IV
III. General
I declare that, to the best of my knowledge, my thesis does not infringe upon anyone’s
copyright nor violate any proprietary rights and that any ideas, techniques, quotations, or any
other material from the work of other people included in my thesis, published or otherwise, are
fully acknowledged in accordance with the standard referencing practices. Furthermore, to the
extent that I have included copyrighted material that surpasses the bounds of fair dealing within
the meaning of the Canada Copyright Act, I certify that I have obtained a written permission
from the copyright owner(s) to include such material(s) in my thesis.
I declare that this is a true copy of my thesis, including any final revisions, as approved
by my thesis committee and the Graduate Studies office, and that this thesis has not been
submitted for a higher degree to any other University or Institution.
V
ABSTRACT
Mg-based hybrid nano composites (MHNC) reinforced with alumina (Al O ) fibre and/or
2 3
micron-sized/nano-sized Al O or AlN particles were successfully prepared by a perform-
2 3
squeeze casting technique under an applied pressure of 90 MPa. Mechanical properties of
unreinforced AM60 alloy, Al O fibre/AM60 composite, hybrid composite containing both
2 3
Al O fibres and mircon-sized Al O particles, as well as hybrid composite containing both
2 3 2 3
Al O fibres and nano-sized Al O or AlN particles (MHNC) were determined by tensile testing.
2 3 2 3
The addition of fibres and micron-sized particle considerably increases the ultimate tensile and
yield strengths of the matrix alloy, despite that a substantial reduction in ductility. Microstructure
analyses by optical (OM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopes show that the homogeneous
distribution of reinforcements, clean interfacial structure and grain refinement lead to the high
strengths of the composites. The addition of nano-sized Al O or AlN ceramics particles (3
2 3
vol.%) into the hybrid composite restores their ductility. The microstructure observation of
transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicates that the presence of a relatively low
dislocation density in the matrix grains of the Mg-based hybrid nano composites (MHNCs). The
SEM fractography reveals that the fracture of the composites is caused primarily by localized
damages, such as particles and fibres damage and cracking, matrix fracture, and interface
debonding. The determined tensile properties support the fractographic features.
VI
DEDICATION

To My Parents,
Lixin Zhou and Xue Yi
For their endless love and devotion
VII
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express to Dr. Henry Hu, for providing me with the opportunity to work
on this project in the engineering materials program of the University of Windsor, and for his
kindly suggestion, encouragement and excellent supervision of this research work.
Great thanks to Dr. Reza Riahi and Dr. Tirupati Bolisetti for the time given for my
research thesis and presentations as my committee members, and providing valuable suggestions
for this project.
I am very grateful to Mr. Andy Jenner, Mr. Steve Budinsky, Ms. Sharon Lackie, and other
technicians for the technical support, Dr. Xuezhi Zhang, Mr. Li Fang, and all other group
members for their technical assistance in the experimental analysis, tests, informative and
valuable discussion in this research.
Most of all I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family: my parents for their
love, understanding, encouragement and support.

VIII
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION OF CO-AUTHORSHIP / PREVIOUS PUBLICATION ................................ III
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. VI
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................. VII
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................................... VIII
LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... XII
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... XIII
CHAPTER 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Background .............................................................................................................................. 1
1.1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1
1.2. Objectives of this study ............................................................................................................ 3
CHAPTER 2 Literature Review .................................................................................................. 5
2.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 6
2.2. Fibers Reinforced Magnesium Alloys ..................................................................................... 7
2.2.1. Solidification process .................................................................................................... 7
2.2.2. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties ................................................................... 8
2.2.2.1. Alumina Fiber Reinforced Magnesium Alloys ....................................................... 8
2.2.2.2. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Magnesium Alloys (Processing) .................................. 13
2.3. Micro-particles Reinforced Magnesium Alloys ..................................................................... 14
2.3.1. Solidification process .................................................................................................. 14
2.3.2. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties ................................................................. 15
2.3.2.1. SiC Particle Reinforced Magnesium Alloy AZ91D ............................................. 15
2.3.2.2. Titanium Particle Reinforced Magnesium Alloy AZ91........................................ 19
2.4. Nano Particle Reinforced Magnesium ................................................................................... 20
2.4.1. Solidification process .................................................................................................. 20
2.4.2. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties ................................................................. 23
2.4.2.1. Nano-sized SiC Particles Reinforced AZ31B Magnesium Composites ............... 23
2.4.2.2. Nano-sized AlN Particles Reinforced AZ91/ZK60A Hybrid Magnesium
Composite .......................................................................................................................... 25
2.4.2.3. Nano-sized Alumina Particles Reinforced AZ31 Magnesium Composite ........... 29
2.4.2.4. Nano-sized Aluminum Particle Reinforced Pure Magnesium Composite ........... 32
2.4.2.5. Nano-sized Silicon Carbide Particles and Carbon Nano Tube Reinforced Pure
Magnesium Composite ...................................................................................................... 35
2.4.2.6. Nano-sized Alumina Particles and Carbon Nano Tube Reinforced Pure
Magnesium Composite ...................................................................................................... 36
2.5. Hybrid Composite Magnesium .............................................................................................. 40
2.5.1.Solidification process ................................................................................................... 40
2.5.2. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties ................................................................. 40
2.5.2.1. Hybrid Reinforced AM60 Magnesium Composites ............................................. 40
2.6. Other Fabrication Methods for Magnesium-Based Composites ............................................ 43
IX