What are the types and names of magnesium alloy?
Some of magnesium’s favourable properties include low specific gravity and a high strength-to-weight ratio. As a result, the material lends itself to a range of automotive, aerospace, industrial, electronic, biomedical, and commercial applications.
Here, you can learn about the various types of magnesium alloys and their designations, the physical properties of magnesium alloys, and the applications in which magnesium alloys are used.
Types and designation
Magnesium alloys can be categorized into two groups: cast alloys and wrought alloys.
Cast alloys are basically made by pouring the molten liquid metal into a mould, within which it solidifies into the required shape. Common cast alloys of magnesium consist of different amounts – but not exceeding 10% – of aluminium, manganese and zinc as principal alloying elements. Other alloying elements have been recently used, as well, mostly to enhance creep resistance, such as zirconium and rare-earth metals. Besides, mechanical properties of cast alloys are augmented by heat treatments.
Wrought alloys, on the other hand, are alloys subjected to mechanical working, such as forging, extrusion, and rolling operations, to reach the desired shape. Aluminium, manganese and zinc are also the main alloying elements. Wrought alloys of magnesium are sorted into heat treatable and non-heat treatable alloys.
In order to understand the compositions of the alloys, designation systems have been created showing the alloying elements and their relative information. One of the most widely used designation systems is the ASTM Standard Alloy Designation System. It is made of four parts, described in the following example:
Magnesium Alloy: AZ91E-T6
• First part (AZ): designates the two main alloying elements (aluminium, zinc)
• Second part (91): designates the percentage amount of the main alloying elements (9% and 1%, respectively)
• Third part (E): differentiates alloys having the same amounts of the main alloying elements (fifth standardised alloy with the above percentages)
• Fourth part (T6): designates the condition of the alloy (temper).
