Synthesis and characterization of the Mg-based amorphous/nano ZrO₂ composite alloy

Mg-based composites are fabricated through mechanical alloying (MA) in the planetary mill, using amorphous Mg₆₅Cu_25-xY₁₀Ag_x (x=0, 5, 10) matrix alloy prepared by melt spun and 1-5 vol.% spherical nano-sized ZrO₂ particles. The melt spun amorphous matrix ribbons are ground into powders and mixed with the ZrO₂ nano particles in the planetary mill, after then formed by hot pressing in Ar atmosphere under different pressures at the temperature 5 K above the glass transition temperature (T_g). The microstructure characterizations of the resulting specimens are conducted by means of XRD, FEG-SEM, and TEM techniques. It is found that the nano-sized ZrO₂ dispersed Mg-based composite alloy powders can reach to a homogeneous size distribution (about 80 nm) after 50 h mechanical alloying. After hot pressing of these composite alloy powders under the pressure of 1100 MPa at 409 K, a 96% dense bulk specimen can be formed. Throughout the MA and hot pressing, the amorphous nature of the Mg₆₅Cu_25-xY₁₀Ag_x matrix is maintained. The hardness of the formed bulk Mg-based composites (with 5 vol% nano-sized ZrO₂ particles) can reach to 360 in H_v scale. In addition, the microstructure near the interface between the matrix and nano particles presents a well-bonded condition.