Powder metallurgy of Mg–1%Al–1%Sn alloy reinforced with low content of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)

•Graphene, 2 dimensional sheet of carbon atom have great potential to reinforce the mechanical properties of the composites.•In present work, graphene is used to reinforce the tensile strength of Mg alloys for the first time.•The increase in strength of the composite could be due to high specific surface area, superior nano-filler adhesion and two-dimensional structure of GNP. The Mg–1%Al–1%Sn–0.18% graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) composite is fabricated by semi powder metallurgy method followed by hot extrusion. Microscopic observation revealed the uniform distribution of GNPs in the matrix. The addition of 0.18wt% GNPs to Mg–1wt%Al–1wt%Sn alloy lead to increase in tensile strength (i.e., from 236 to 269MPa). The increase in strength of the composite could be due to high specific surface area, superior nano-filler adhesion and two-dimensional structure of GNPs.