Influence of sintering routes to the mechanical properties of magnesium alloy and its composites produced by PM technique

Two kinds of sintering routes liquid phase sintering (LS) and solid phase sintering (SS) were used to fabricate Mg–9Al and 15 vol.%SiCp/Mg–9Al magnesium composite. Mechanical properties of composites and matrix alloys produced by different sintering routes were investigated. Results show that the tensile and yield strength of LS achieved 15%SiCp/Mg9Al-1 were 11.1% and 22.8% higher than those of the matrix respectively. Matrix alloy (Mg9Al-2) and composite (15%SiCp/Mg9Al-2) fabricated via SS process had lower strength values and higher ductility compared to the same material via LS process. The yield strength of 15%SiCp/Mg9Al-1 was found to be as high as 339 MPa which is 25.1% higher than that of 15%SiCp/Mg9Al-2, which was considered to be result from combination effects of refined matrix alloy and certain mount of fine γ(Mg17Al12) phase which uniformly distribute in the matrix.