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In the present study, the mechanical properties of magnesium composites containing nano-ZnO particles are investigated. An increase in microhardness was observed with increasing amount of ZnO from 0·5 to 1·5 vol.- in magnesium. The tensile and compressive yield strengths of the composites remained similar to that of Mg. This is attributed to the heterogeneous grain size distribution and the resultant weak basal texture. The tension–compression yield asymmetry was also found to be minimal due to the lack of strong basal texture. The composites showed improved ultimate tensile and compressive strengths, and this is attributed to well known strengthening mechanisms due to the presence of fine reinforcement particles. The tensile failure strain was significantly improved in composites, while there was a compromise in compressive failure strain. The improved tensile failure strain was due to non-basal slip activation through grain refinement and lack of intense basal intensity in composites.

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This study investigates the microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium (Mg) containing alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles as hybrid reinforcements. For composite preparation, the amount of Cu was varied from 0.1 to 0.9 volume percent, whereas the amount of Al 2 O 3 was fixed at 1 volume percent. Mg and its composites were synthesized using powder metallurgy route incorporating energy-efficient microwave sintering followed by hot extrusion. Hybrid reinforcements in Mg matrix led to a grain size reduction, and the grain size decreased with increasing presence of secondary phases (reinforcements and intermetallics). Overall distribution of secondary phases within the matrix was observed to be uniform despite the formation of clusters. A significant improvement in microhardness was exhibited by all composite formulations when compared to pure Mg. The results also showed that yield and ultimate strengths were enhanced in all composite formulations under both tensile and compressive loading while tensile and compressive failure strains were compromised.

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