Improvement of high velocity impact performance of carbon nanotube and lead reinforced magnesium alloy

Abstract

This paper presented the effect of strain rate changes due to Carbon Nanotube (CNT) and Lead addition in Magnesium Alloy, AZ31B on high velocity impact performance. This metal is normally used to fabricate armored vehicle panel. The changing strain will affect the strain rate and had been widely used in automotive applications to accommodate high velocity impact. High strain rate material was applied on the armored vehicle to withstand the impact of the projectile. AZ31B alloy was reinforced with CNT and Lead using Disintegrated Melt Deposition (DMD) method. AZ31B ingots were melted at a temperature of 660 ºC and produced the reinforcement of CNT and Lead during the melting process. Mixed materials were completely inserted into the mold for further process. Microstructure analysis was performed to observe the variance structure of samples. The high velocity impact experiment was performed using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar machine. The diameter of the sample was 18 mm with 12.5 mm thickness. The addition of materials such as CNT and Lead into AZ31B had increased the material strain rate. The effect of increasing the strain rate was in line with the increase of energy absorption. The result showed that the strain rate had increased about 30% from the original material, AZ31B and consequently also increased the energy absorption. Thus, the addition of CNT and Lead would increase the strain rate of the original material of magnesium alloy and hence increase the energy absorption capability during impact.