Mechanical and impact properties of Mg‑carbon fiber metal laminates based on alkaline etching pre-treatment of Mg alloy

This work investigates the mechanical and impact properties of Mg‑carbon fiber metal laminates (Mg-CFMLs) based on an alkaline etching pre-treatment of Mg alloy. The results indicate that the tensile strength of Mg-CFMLs reaches 509 MPa, and the stress-strain curve exhibits linear elastic behavior. Alkaline etching effectively inhibits crack propagation along the interface, and then the tensile fracture displays a mixed-mode failure of Mg substrate and CFRP composites. After impact test, there are only limited delamination observed at impact area of Mg-CFMLs, suggesting that alkaline etching improves the impact property. The impact energy is absorbed mainly through CFRP composites damage, deformation and shear failure of Mg layers, and limited delamination.