Application of Nanosilicon to the Sintering of Mg-Mg₂Si Interpenetrating Phases Composite

The new in situ fabrication process for Mg-Mg₂Si composites composed of interpenetrating metal/intermetallic phases via powder metallurgy was characterized. To obtain the designed composite microstructure, variable nanosilicon ((n)Si) (i.e., 2, 4, and 6 vol.% (n)Si) concentrations were mixed with magnesium powders. The mixture was ordered using a sonic method. The powder mixture morphologies were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and heating and cooling-induced thermal effects were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Composite sinters were fabricated by hot-pressing the powders under a vacuum of 2.8 Pa. Shifts in the sintering temperature resulted in two observable microstructures: (1) the presence of Mg₂Si and MgO intermetallic phases in α-Mg (580 °C); and (2) Mg₂Si intermetallic phases in the α-Mg matrix enriched with bands of refined MgO (640 °C). Materials were characterized by light microscopy (LM) with quantitative metallography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), open porosity measurements, hardness testing, microhardness testing, and nanoindentation. The results revealed that (n)Si in applied sintering conditions ensured the formation of globular and very fine Mg₂Si particles. The particles bonded with each other to form an intermetallic network. The volume fraction of this network increased with (n)Si concentration but was dependent on sintering temperature. Increasing sintering temperature intensified magnesium vaporization, affecting the composite formation mechanism and increasing the volume fraction of silicide.