The interfacial characteristic of SiCp/AZ91 magnesium matrix composites fabricated by stir casting

The particle/matrix interfaces in SiCp/AZ91 composite fabricated by stir casting were investigated using transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with ultra-thin window energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) system. Chemical reactions indeed occurred at the interfaces. According to EDAX results, the interfacial reaction products are considered to contain Al4C3, MgO, and Mg2Si phases. The interfaces can be classified into three types (interfaces I, II, and III) according to morphological features of the interfaces: (1) for interface I, interfacial reaction products were in direct contact with the surface of SiCp; (2) for interface II, interfacial reaction products were not in direct contact with the surface of SiCp; (3) for interface III, interfacial reaction products were not observed at the interfaces, i.e., interface III was simply formed by the two surfaces of SiCp and matrix. Mg17Al12 and Al8Mn5 precipitate phases heterogeneously nucleated at the particle/matrix interfaces.