Thermal expansion and mechanical properties of pure magnesium containing zirconium tungsten phosphate particles with negative thermal expansion

The magnesium composites containing Zr2(WO4)(PO4)2 (ZWP) particles with negative thermal expansion (NTE) were synthesized. Dense, unreacted Mg/ZWP composites were fabricated by extruding the two component powders. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the mechanical properties of the composites were examined. The CTE of Mg/ZWP composites decreased with an increase in the amount of ZWP in the composites, though the effect was not significant probably because of the low bulk modulus of ZWP. Although there was a tension-compression asymmetry in the room temperature yield strength of Mg without ZWP, the difference reduced in the composites. The decreased asymmetry of yield behavior was suggested to be resulting from the tensile residual stress in the matrix produced during fabrication process because of the NTE of ZWP.