Comparison of the Effects of Milling Time and Speed on Mechanical Properties of Magnesium Nanocomposites and Microcomposites
AbstractMagnesium has attractive properties such as low density, high specific strength, recyclable, naturally abundant etc.; however, it has also some disadvantages such as low elastic modulus, poor creep and abrasion resistance and high corrosion rate. Nano- and micro-sized ceramic particles have been added to magnesium and its alloys to overcome these limitations [1]. Mechanical alloying is one of the most used manufacturing methods for magnesium matrix composites. This method is a solid-state powder manufacturing method that has three stages such as repeated cold welding, fracturing, and rewelding of powder particles in a high-energy ball mill. In this process, small quantity of powder mixture and high energy ball mill are blended at a high speed for a determined time at a vial (milling container) [2]. Type of mill, milling container (vial), milling speed, milling time, ball-to- powder weight ratio, milling atmosphere, process control agent, and temperature of milling are the important parameters that affect the mechanical properties of materials manufactured via mechanical alloying.