High temperature tensile response of nano-Al2O3 reinforced AZ31 nanocomposites

Nano-Al2O3 reinforcement's capability to simultaneously enhance the room temperature (25 °C) strength and ductility of magnesium alloys has effectively been exploited in ingot metallurgy processed AZ31/1.5Al2O3 nanocomposite in this study. Tensile characterization revealed that at high temperature (150–250 °C), instead of strengthening, the thermally stable nano-Al2O3 reinforcement ironically exacerbated the softening of AZ31 alloy. However, an incredible increment in AZ31 alloy (with grain size of ∼2.3 μm) ductility (up to 184%) has been achieved in the nanocomposite with increasing temperature due to the incorporation of nano-Al2O3 as reinforcement. Microstructural characterization of the nanocomposite revealed that the dynamic recrystallization process has induced a complete recrystallization in AZ31 alloy matrix at a relatively much lower temperature (150 °C) with tremendous grain growth near the fracture surface at higher temperature (250 °C). Fractography of the nanocomposite revealed that the room temperature mixed ductile mode fracture behavior of AZ31 alloy transformed to a complete ductile mode at high temperature due to the presence of nano-Al2O3 particulates.