Making Strong Al(Mg)-Al 3 Mg 2 Composites

Size control of β-Al3Mg2 precipitates, formation of clean Al(Mg)/Al3Mg2 interfaces and refinement of matrix microstructures are key structural factors in the development of strong Al(Mg)-Al3Mg2 composites. Here, we combine severe plastic deformation with rapid thermomechanical powder consolidation to attain a desirable synergy of these structural factors to achieve a high strength. The study demonstrates that the fabricated composite containing 1.2vol.%Al3Mg2 precipitates shows a high yield strength of ~700 MPa in tension and ~850 MPa in compression, opening up a new pathway for developing lighter Al-Mg alloy based composites with higher strength.