Fabrication and characterization of cast magnesium matrix composites by vacuum stir casting process

A vacuum stir casting process is developed to produce SiC_p reinforced cast magnesium matrix composites. This process can eliminate the entrapment of external gas onto melt and oxidation of magnesium during stirring synthesis. Two composites with Mg-Al9Zn and Mg-Zn5Zr alloys as matrices and 15 vol.% SiC particles as reinforcement are obtained. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites and the unreinforced alloys in as-cast and heat treatment conditions are analyzed and evaluated. In 15 vol.% SiC_p reinforced Mg-Al9Zn alloy-based composite (Mg-Al9Zn/15SiC_p), SiC particles distribute homogenously in the matrix and are well bonded with magnesium. In 15 vol.% SiC_p reinforced Mg-Zn5Zr alloy-based composite (Mg-Zn5Zr/15SiC_p), some agglomerations of SiC particles can be seen in the microstructure. In the same stirring process conditions, SiC reinforcement is more easily wetted by magnesium in the Mg-Al9Zn melt than in the Mg-Zn5Zr melt. The significant improvement in yield strength and elastic modulus for two composites has been achieved, especially for the Mg-Al9Zn/15SiC_p composite in which yield strength and elastic modulus increase 112 and 33%, respectively, over the unreinforced alloy, and increase 24 and 21%, respectively, for the Mg-Zn5Zr/15SiC_p composite. The strain-hardening behaviors of the two composites and their matrix alloys were analyzed based on the microstructure characteristics of the materials.