Processing, Microstructures, and Mechanical Properties of Magnesium Matrix Composites: A Review

In the last two decades, light-weight magnesium matrix composites have been the hot issue of material field due to their excellent mechanical and physical properties, e.g., high-specific strength and modulus, good wear resistance, and damping capacity. As compared with aluminum matrix composites, magnesium matrix composites have merit in their specific weight and have wide applications in aerospace and aeronautical fields. Generally, the processing techniques for magnesium matrix composites can be categorized as conventional and special processing routes. In recent years, as a special processing route, metal melt infiltration into porous ceramic preform featured by its low cost and availability of high-volume fraction of reinforced ceramics have been receiving much attention. Thus, in this review, one emphasis was put on the description of this processing technique in association with the means to obtain good wettability, the prerequisite for this kind of processing method. Based on the recognized fact that there exist clean interface and bonding ability between ceramics and matrix metal, in-situ reaction synthesis is usually utilized to fabricate magnesium matrix composites. Therefore, the interfacial feature was also reviewed for the in-situ reaction synthesis. Characterizations of microstructures and various mechanical physical properties were finally summarized for magnesium matrix composites including tensile response, wear resistance, creep behavior, and damping capacity.