Microstructure analysis of magnesium alloy and/or its nanocomposite under high strain rate testing

• Main Author: Tan, Valerie Ying Jia
• Other Authors: Shu Dong Wei
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Engineering::Materials::Metallic materials::Alloys; Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/158131
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

With the rise in car ownership, consumption of resources and energy has increased considerably. This causes severe environmental pollution and to counter this problem, reducing exhaust emissions is required. Using lightweight and high-strength material helps to improve vehicles fuel efficiency and reduces the weight of the vehicle. With such properties, magnesium alloy has become an attractive material to use in the automobile and aerospace industry. The purpose of the project was to study the influence of strain rate on magnesium alloy as well as the microstructure of magnesium alloy. There are two specimens used, one having went through deformation at high strain rate by the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar Compression Test at room temperature and the other being at its original state. By analysing the microstructure of the magnesium alloy, we will be able to determine whether magnesium alloys are beneficial for the several mentioned industries. Before studying the microstructure of the alloy, the alloy will go through the metallographic preparation process. The metallographic preparation process consists of mounting, grinding, polishing, and etching. The microstructure of the specimens was viewed using the Optical Microscope and the Scanning Electron Microscope. Lastly, the results obtained will be analysed and compared to other reliable sources to prove the results.