The compaction behavior of Magnesium-Expanded Natural Graphite powder mixtures: Tensile strengths of compacted pellets

•Compaction was achieved in the mixtures of Magnesium AZ91 + Expanded Natural Graphite (ENG) above 10 wt% ENG.•The highest tensile strength was achieved at 500 MPa compaction pressure.•The compaction pressures above 500 MPa developed shear bands in the pellets. The effects of Expanded Natural Graphite (ENG) content, powder mixing method and compaction pressure on the tensile strengths of Magnesium AZ91 (9 wt% Al, 1 wt% Zn and 0.2 wt% Mn) + ENG powder mixture pellets were investigated. The tensile strengths of the pellets increased with an increase in the ENG content and compaction pressure and also with the applied powder ball milling. However, the compaction pressures above 500 MPa resulted in shear banding.