Microstructural Variations In Cast B4C-Reinforced Magnesium Matrix Composites

It is very important to overcome the wetting problem between B4C and liquid magnesium so that the high hardness, wear resistance and stiffness properties expected from B4C reinforced Mg matrix composite materials can be obtained. In the present work, Magnesi？um matrix (AZ91) composites reinforced with 5 and 10%(wt.) B4CP were produced by using stir casting method at 7500C. Microstructure and matrix/reinforcement interfaces of produced composites were have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. The reaction layer between matrix/reinforcement was also characterized with EDS analysis and X-ray mapping. It was found from the microstructural observations by high resolution field emission gun SEM (FEG-SEM) that the wetting improved by the formation of very thin Mn-C and Al-B reaction layers