Tribological Response of Magnesium/Glass Microballoon Syntactic Foams

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg)-based materials have great potential to replace the existing aluminum alloys and steels used in applications spanning the industries of defense, aerospace, and automotive due in essence to their excellent specific strength [σ/ρ], damping characteristics, and impact resistance. In this research study, we design an ultralow density magnesium/glass microballoon (GMB) syntactic foam having a density of 1.47 g/cc using the technique of Disintegrated Melt Deposition (DMD). The resultant material offered a healthy combination of extraordinary properties outperforming the existing aluminium and iron syntactic foams in terms of a noticeable improvement in specific strength [σ/ρ]. Further, the wear resistance of magnesium under dry sliding conditions showed a significant enhancement (~2.5 times) following the addition of glass microballoon (GMB). Abrasion and oxidation were identified to be the dominant wear mechanisms post worn-surface analysis. Morphology of the worn specimen provided clean, clear, and convincing evidence for the occurrence of delamination wear, which has traditionally limited the competitive advantage of magnesium and its alloy counterparts for selection and use in safety–critical components in transportation vehicles. This can be effectively overcome by the development of the proposed syntactic foams, which provide a unique cushioning effect against the applied load. © 2022, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.