Damping properties of porous AZ91 magnesium alloy reinforced with copper particles

The well distributed open porous AZ91 magnesium alloy reinforced with copper particles was successfully prepared through powder metallurgy route based on space holder method. Its damping properties were characterised by internal friction and the internal friction measurement in a temperature range from room temperature to 100°C was performed by a multifunction internal friction apparatus. Experimental results revealed that the damping capacity of the porous AZ91 magnesium alloy was increased as a result of the addition of copper particle and the increase was further enhanced with increasing volume fraction of copper particle. Attempt is performed to correlate the increase in damping with the microstructural change arising due to the addition of copper particles. It was suggested that the increase should be related to the appearance of plastic zone and thus an increase in dislocation density at the matrix particles interfaces.