Breaking down the wetting temperature barrier of TiCnp&Mg: A novel high-temperature dispersion medium of molten salt

Nanoparticles tend to aggregate, making their dispersion in magnesium (Mg) melt challenging. Additionally, at temperatures below 700 °C, a wetting barrier with a high contact angle was formed between the nanoparticles and the Mg melt. In this study, molten salt (NaCl-KCl-MgCl₂) was employed as a high-temperature dispersion medium (HTDM) to predisperse TiC nanoparticles (TiC_np), thereby enhancing the dispersibility of TiC_np. At 850^oC, the contact angle between TiC_np and the Mg melt was reduced, and the wetting barrier was effectively broken down by the molten salt. Meanwhile, the HTDM containing TiC_np helped prevent the oxidation of the Mg melt as the temperature increased. The successful dispersion of TiC_np in pure Mg was achieved, resulting in the fabrication of a TiC_np/Mg composite. The composite demonstrated a 127 % increase in yield strength (YS), a notable enhancement in elastic modulus, and maintained a plasticity of 4.4 % after hot deformation.