Study on tensile properties and microstructure of cast AZ91D/AlN nanocomposites

AZ91D is a widely used magnesium alloy, but its application is generally limited to below 150 °C because of its weak creep resistance and tensile properties at elevated temperatures. In this study, high temperature (200 °C) tensile properties including yield strength and tensile strength of AZ91D are much improved by adding only about 1.0 wt% AlN nanoparticles in the AZ91D matrix through an innovative ultrasonic cavitation based dispersion of nanoparticles. The good ductility of AZ91D is also retained in AZ91D/1%AlN nanocomposites. It is found that ultrasonic cavitation based solidification processing is very effective to disperse AlN nanoparticles in AZ91D melts, which is difficult to obtain by traditional mechanical stirring methods. With a good combination of high temperature yield strength, tensile strength and ductility, AZ91D/1%AlN nanocomposite is promising as a new class of structural materials to be used at temperatures up to 200 °C or higher.