Depth sensing indentation of magnesium/boron nitride nanocomposites

Magnesium nanocomposites, considered as energy-saving lightweight materials of future, are a fairly new family of composite materials with enhanced specific strength and ductility compared to pure magnesium and/or magnesium alloys. In the present study, time-dependent plastic deformation of novel light-weight magnesium/boron nitride nanocomposites containing 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 vol% of nano-boron nitride particulates is studied through a depth-sensing indentation approach against monolithic pure magnesium. The synthesis of magnesium-boron nitride nanocomposites was accomplished using powder metallurgy technique coupled with microwave sintering, followed by hot extrusion (end products are 8-mm diameter rods). The depth sensing indentation creep tests were conducted at room temperature (similar to 0.32T(m) of magnesium) using an instrumented indentation platform via a self-similar pyramidal (Berkovich) indenter. To assess the influence of loading rate on the indentation-induced deformation behavior of the materials, a dual stage indentation creep including a constant loading rate followed by a constant load-holding scheme was used; indentation tests were performed on the specimens. The specimens were loaded at rates of 0.05, 0.5, 5, and 50 mN/s to a peak load of 50 mN then force was held constant for 400 s while load/displacement/time data were recorded continuously. The results of the depth sensing indentation tests were correlated and explained using the microstructural characteristics placing special emphasis on the volume fraction of reinforcement and the indentation loading rate. Finally, the controlling creep mechanisms of the magnesium-boron nitride nanocomposites and the base metal (pure magnesium) were discussed in the present paper. The results of this paper can be used as a baseline for high-temperature creep analysis of magnesium-boron nitride nanocomposites which is of engineering significance.