UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff WWiinnddssoorr SScchhoollaarrsshhiipp aatt UUWWiinnddssoorr Electronic Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Major Papers 10-5-2017 DDeevveellooppmmeenntt ooff MMgg AAllllooyy AAMM6600‐bbaasseedd HHyybbrriidd NNaannoo‐CCoommppoossiitteess RReeiinnffoorrcceedd wwiitthh NNaannoo AAll22OO33 oorr AAllNN PPaarrttiicclleess aanndd MMiiccrroonn AAll22OO33 FFiibbrreess Junxiang Zhou University of Windsor Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn Zhou, Junxiang, "Development of Mg Alloy AM60‐based Hybrid Nano‐Composites Reinforced with Nano Al2O3 or AlN Particles and Micron Al2O3 Fibres" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 7312. https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/7312 This online database contains the full-text of PhD dissertations and Masters’ theses of University of Windsor students from 1954 forward. These documents are made available for personal study and research purposes only, in accordance with the Canadian Copyright Act and the Creative Commons license—CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivative Works). Under this license, works must always be attributed to the copyright holder (original author), cannot be used for any commercial purposes, and may not be altered. Any other use would require the permission of the copyright holder. Students may inquire about withdrawing their dissertation and/or thesis from this database. For additional inquiries, please contact the repository administrator via email ([email protected]) or by telephone at 519-253-3000ext. 3208. Development of Mg Alloy AM60‐based Hybrid Nano‐Composites Reinforced with Nano Al O or AlN Particles and Micron Al O Fibres 2 3 2 3 By Junxiang Zhou A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Through the Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of Master of Applied Science At the University of Windsor Windsor, Ontario, Canada 2017 © 2017 Junxiang Zhou Development of Mg Alloy AM60‐based Hybrid Nano‐Composites Reinforced with Nano Al O or AlN Particles and Micron Al O Fibres 2 3 2 3 By Junxiang Zhou APPROVED BY: ______________________________________________ T. Bolisetti Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering ______________________________________________ R. Riahi Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering ______________________________________________ H. Hu, Advisor Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering September 12, 2017 DECLARATION OF CO-AUTHORSHIP / PREVIOUS PUBLICATION I. Co-Authorship I hereby declare that this thesis incorporates material that is result of joint research. In all cases, the key ideas, primary contributions, experimental designs, data analysis and interpretation, were performed by the author and Dr. H. Hu as advisor. Chapter 3 was co- authored with Xuezhi Zhang, Li Fang. Xuezhi Zhang and Li Fang both contributed in bulk samples preparations. Chapter 4 and 5 were co-authored with Luyang Ren, Xingyu Geng, and Li Fang. Luyang Ren, Xingyu Geng, and Li Fang all contributed to bulk samples preparations. I certify that, with the above qualification, this dissertation, and the research to which it refers, is the product of my own work. I am aware of the University of Windsor Senate Policy on Authorship and I certify that I have properly acknowledged the contribution of other researchers to my thesis, and have obtained written permission from each of the co-author(s) to include the above material(s) in my thesis. I certify that, with the above qualification, this thesis, and the research to which it refers, is the product of my own work. II. Previous Publication III This thesis includes 3 original papers that have been previously published/submitted for publication in peer reviewed journals, as follows: Thesis Chapter Publication title/full citation Publication status* Chapter 3 Junxiang Zhou, Xuezhi Zhang, Li Fang, Henry Published Hu, Processing and properties of as-cast magnesium AM60-based composite containing alumina nano particles and micron fibres, Magnesium Technology 2017, Part of the series The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series, 573-578, 2017 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, February 26- March 2, 2017, San Diego, CA, USA. Chapter 4 Junxiang Zhou, Luyang Ren, Xinyu Geng, Li Revision Requested Fang and Henry Hu, As-cast Magnesium AM60-Based Hybrid Nanocomposite Containing Alumina Fibres and Nanoparticles: Microstructure and Tensile Behavior, Materials Science & Engineering A, August, 2017 Chapter 5 Junxiang Zhou, Luyang Ren, Xinyu Geng, Li Prepared Fang and Henry Hu, Microstructure and Tensile Properties of Cast Magnesium AM60- Based Hybrid Nanocomposites Reinforced With Al O Fibres and Al O or AlN 2 3 2 3 Nanoparticles I certify that I have obtained a written permission from the copyright owner(s) to include the above published material(s) in my thesis. I certify that the above material describes work completed during my registration as a graduate student at the University of Windsor. IV III. General I declare that, to the best of my knowledge, my thesis does not infringe upon anyone’s copyright nor violate any proprietary rights and that any ideas, techniques, quotations, or any other material from the work of other people included in my thesis, published or otherwise, are fully acknowledged in accordance with the standard referencing practices. Furthermore, to the extent that I have included copyrighted material that surpasses the bounds of fair dealing within the meaning of the Canada Copyright Act, I certify that I have obtained a written permission from the copyright owner(s) to include such material(s) in my thesis. I declare that this is a true copy of my thesis, including any final revisions, as approved by my thesis committee and the Graduate Studies office, and that this thesis has not been submitted for a higher degree to any other University or Institution. V ABSTRACT Mg-based hybrid nano composites (MHNC) reinforced with alumina (Al O ) fibre and/or 2 3 micron-sized/nano-sized Al O or AlN particles were successfully prepared by a perform- 2 3 squeeze casting technique under an applied pressure of 90 MPa. Mechanical properties of unreinforced AM60 alloy, Al O fibre/AM60 composite, hybrid composite containing both 2 3 Al O fibres and mircon-sized Al O particles, as well as hybrid composite containing both 2 3 2 3 Al O fibres and nano-sized Al O or AlN particles (MHNC) were determined by tensile testing. 2 3 2 3 The addition of fibres and micron-sized particle considerably increases the ultimate tensile and yield strengths of the matrix alloy, despite that a substantial reduction in ductility. Microstructure analyses by optical (OM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopes show that the homogeneous distribution of reinforcements, clean interfacial structure and grain refinement lead to the high strengths of the composites. The addition of nano-sized Al O or AlN ceramics particles (3 2 3 vol.%) into the hybrid composite restores their ductility. The microstructure observation of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicates that the presence of a relatively low dislocation density in the matrix grains of the Mg-based hybrid nano composites (MHNCs). The SEM fractography reveals that the fracture of the composites is caused primarily by localized damages, such as particles and fibres damage and cracking, matrix fracture, and interface debonding. The determined tensile properties support the fractographic features. VI DEDICATION To My Parents, Lixin Zhou and Xue Yi For their endless love and devotion VII ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express to Dr. Henry Hu, for providing me with the opportunity to work on this project in the engineering materials program of the University of Windsor, and for his kindly suggestion, encouragement and excellent supervision of this research work. Great thanks to Dr. Reza Riahi and Dr. Tirupati Bolisetti for the time given for my research thesis and presentations as my committee members, and providing valuable suggestions for this project. I am very grateful to Mr. Andy Jenner, Mr. Steve Budinsky, Ms. Sharon Lackie, and other technicians for the technical support, Dr. Xuezhi Zhang, Mr. Li Fang, and all other group members for their technical assistance in the experimental analysis, tests, informative and valuable discussion in this research. Most of all I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family: my parents for their love, understanding, encouragement and support. VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION OF CO-AUTHORSHIP / PREVIOUS PUBLICATION ................................ III ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. VI DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................. VII ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................................... VIII LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... XII LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... XIII CHAPTER 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Objectives of this study ............................................................................................................ 3 CHAPTER 2 Literature Review .................................................................................................. 5 2.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 6 2.2. Fibers Reinforced Magnesium Alloys ..................................................................................... 7 2.2.1. Solidification process .................................................................................................... 7 2.2.2. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties ................................................................... 8 2.2.2.1. Alumina Fiber Reinforced Magnesium Alloys ....................................................... 8 2.2.2.2. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Magnesium Alloys (Processing) .................................. 13 2.3. Micro-particles Reinforced Magnesium Alloys ..................................................................... 14 2.3.1. Solidification process .................................................................................................. 14 2.3.2. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties ................................................................. 15 2.3.2.1. SiC Particle Reinforced Magnesium Alloy AZ91D ............................................. 15 2.3.2.2. Titanium Particle Reinforced Magnesium Alloy AZ91........................................ 19 2.4. Nano Particle Reinforced Magnesium ................................................................................... 20 2.4.1. Solidification process .................................................................................................. 20 2.4.2. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties ................................................................. 23 2.4.2.1. Nano-sized SiC Particles Reinforced AZ31B Magnesium Composites ............... 23 2.4.2.2. Nano-sized AlN Particles Reinforced AZ91/ZK60A Hybrid Magnesium Composite .......................................................................................................................... 25 2.4.2.3. Nano-sized Alumina Particles Reinforced AZ31 Magnesium Composite ........... 29 2.4.2.4. Nano-sized Aluminum Particle Reinforced Pure Magnesium Composite ........... 32 2.4.2.5. Nano-sized Silicon Carbide Particles and Carbon Nano Tube Reinforced Pure Magnesium Composite ...................................................................................................... 35 2.4.2.6. Nano-sized Alumina Particles and Carbon Nano Tube Reinforced Pure Magnesium Composite ...................................................................................................... 36 2.5. Hybrid Composite Magnesium .............................................................................................. 40 2.5.1.Solidification process ................................................................................................... 40 2.5.2. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties ................................................................. 40 2.5.2.1. Hybrid Reinforced AM60 Magnesium Composites ............................................. 40 2.6. Other Fabrication Methods for Magnesium-Based Composites ............................................ 43 IX