Synthesis, Characterization and Mechanical Behaviour of Mg-Al Based Insitu Composites for Biomedical Applications

Magnesium based composites have emerged as potential material in biomedical applications owing to its biocompatibility and strength. Present work fabricates the Magnesium-Aluminium with insitu reinforced zirconium diboride composites (Mg-Al/ZrB_2). Synthesis was conducted in the presence of Argon gas through electric resistance furnace using stir casting route. XRD analysis was performed to see the presence of elements which confirmed the presence of Mg, Al and ZrB_2peaks. Further Optical microscopy study was conducted to analysis the behaviour of microstructural features of alloy and composites. It was observed that inclusions of insitu formed ZrB_2 results in significant reduction in average grain size. Further, SEM was employed to see the presence of particle, particles distribution, their shape and size. SEM reveals uniform distribution of ZrB_2 particles with hexagonal morphology. However, some agglomeration is also evident which is due to nano particles size of reinforced particles. Also, some porosity is also visible in composite which is further confirmed through density and porosity investigation. Further the Vickers hardness test and ultimate tensile test was performed to analysis the mechanical behaviour of alloy and composites. Results clearly demonstrate increase in Vickers hardness value by ~ 67% and tensile strength ~ 30 % of composite when compared with Mg-Al alloy.