INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL PRPERTIES OF AZ91 MAGNESIUM ALLOY REINFORCED WITH REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE(r-GO) AND HEXAGONAL BORON NITRIDE (hBN)

Abstract

Lightweight materials are now relevant worldwide due to the increased focus on energy saving, analysis, and related development. The reduced mass density of magnesium (Mg) and its alloys has significantly increased their potential for usage in modern industries. Although magnesium is widely valued in the transportation industry for its lightweight properties, its broader application has been hindered by its relatively low strength and limited ductility. In metal matrix composites (MMCs), studies have shown that refining the size of reinforcement particles can lead to improved mechanical performance. In this context, the mechanical characteristics of the AZ91 magnesium alloy was enhanced by incorporating hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) as reinforcements. This research focused on evaluating key output responses such as Tensile strength, flexural strength and Micro-hardness under the influence of various process parameters, including stirring speed and different weight percentages of r-GO and hBN using the stir casting process. The findings indicated that the uniform dispersion of nano-reinforcements within the magnesium matrix led to noticeable improvements in the composite’s overall mechanical properties. These enhancements suggest that the developed MMC has the potential to broaden the industrial applications of AZ91 magnesium alloy, especially in sectors where both strength and weight reduction are crucial. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) has been adopted to assess the effectiveness of the model created.