Micro‐Mechanical Behavior of an Exceptionally Strong Metal Matrix Nanocomposite Processed by High‐Pressure Torsion

This research describes the micro‐mechanical behavior of an Al–Mg alloy system synthesized from two separate commercial Al‐1050 and ZK60 alloys through the application of high‐pressure torsion (HPT) for five turns at room temperature. The essential mechanical characteristics of the alloys are observed at the corresponding phases in a multi‐layered structure at the disk center but the edge contains a metal matrix nanocomposite (MMNC) exhibiting an apparent plastic instability and decreasing strain rate sensitivity under strain rates of 10 −4 −10 −3  s −1 . The results demonstrate a significant opportunity for using HPT processing to prepare new alloy systems involving a wide range of MMNCs.