Fabrication of a bulk GdN nanoparticles-reinforced Mg-Gd matrix nanocomposite with phenomenal mechanical properties

• A novel bulk GdN /Mg-Gd nanocomposite was successfully fabricated.
• GdN nanoparticles synthesized by in-situ reaction were distributed homogeneously.
• The GdN/Mg-Gd nanocomposite exhibits phenomenal mechanical properties.

A novel bulk Mg-Gd matrix nanocomposite reinforced with GdN nanoparticles has been successfully fabricated utilizing an advanced powder metallurgy route within in-situ reactions during sintering process. The as-prepared nanocomposite with nanocrystalline (NC) or ultrafine-grained (UFG) matrix and homogeneously dispersed nanoparticles exhibits phenomenal mechanical properties: ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 521 MPa, yield strength (YS) of 506 MPa and tensile elongation (El) of 2.8%. The drastic improvement of the strength in comparison with that of conventional magnesium alloys is ascribed to fine grain strengthening of NC/UFG matrix, dispersion strengthening and load bearing mechanism of the GdN nanoparticles and β (Mg5Gd) or β′ (Mg3Gd) precipitates.