Abstract
Nanostructured Mg-5%Al-x%Nd (x=0.5,1 and 5 wt.%) alloys were prepared by mechanical alloying. Microstructural characterisation revealed average crystalline size to be about 90 nm after sintering and extrusion. Mechanical properties showed increase in 0.2% yield stress, ultimate tensile strength and ductility after 20 h of mechanical alloying. The increase in yield stress and ultimate tensile strength was attributed to reduction in grain size as well as to the enhanced diffusion after mechanical activation. Although ultra high yield stress was observed from the specimen with 5%Nd, its ductility was reduced to about 1.6%.
