Nanocrystalline Al–Mg alloy with ultrahigh strength and good ductility

A bulk nanocrystalline Al–5%Mg alloy was synthesized by an in situ consolidation mechanical alloying technique. The mechanical behavior of this alloy was investigated by hardness and tensile tests, which revealed it has four times the strength of a conventional Al-5083 alloy along with good ductility (8.5% elongation). The microstructure was investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and the fracture surface by scanning electron microscopy.