Compressive properties and energy absorption behavior of Mg17Al12/Al ordered structure composites

In this study, Mg17Al12/Al ordered structure composites were prepared by infiltrating the ordered porous aluminum with the intermetallic compound Mg17Al12 under gravity condition. Their compressive properties and energy absorption behavior were investigated by quasi-static compression tests. The results showed that Mg17Al12/Al ordered structure composites exhibited distinctly different compressive stress-strain curves with a prominent linear elastic stage and had an advantage over ordered porous aluminum and Mg17Al12/Al composites with irregular structures on mechanical properties. Moreover, Mg17Al12/Al composites with strengthened truss structure showed better compressive properties than Mg17Al12/Al composites with basic truss structure. The ordered porous aluminum that acted as matrix skeleton showed great plasticity and ductility while the intermetallic compound Mg17Al12 as filler exhibited high compressive strength and obvious brittleness. The improvement of mechanical properties of Mg17Al12/Al ordered structure composites was attributed to the ordered composite structure and the distinct mechanical property of co-continuous intermetallic compound Mg17Al12 and pure Al.