Compression behavior of magnesium/carbon nanotube composites

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced magnesium (Mg) matrix composites were synthesized using a powder metallurgical method and tested compressively along the plane normal and in-plane orientations. Yield strengths of composites were significantly increased by 35–129% compared with that of pure Mg. With the increase of CNT weight percentage, yield strength first increased until reaching a critical CNT weight percentage and then decreased. Twinning operated in the in-plane samples when CNT weight percentage was less than or equal to 0.5%, whereas twinning operation was not observed in all plane normal samples and the in-plane samples with 1% or higher CNT weight percentage. Severe plastic deformation was exhibited in fracture surface images with low magnification, whereas intrinsic brittle fracture feature was observed under high magnification. A theoretical model incorporating the Orowan strengthening and the thermal expansion mismatch strengthening was utilized and made good yield strength predictions.