Magnesium Alloys - Applications and Advantages

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Whether cast or wrought, magnesium alloys offer excellent strength-to-weight ratios for a variety of engineering projects. Magnesium alloys are 70% lighter than stainless steel and one-third lighter than aluminum. They are easy to process, have the highest damping capacity known among all structural metals, and are low-cost. Magnesium alloys are widely used in automobiles, defense, electronics, aerospace and other fields. , biomedical, manufacturing and green energy technologies.

Advantages of magnesium alloy

In environments where parts and equipment need to be lightweight, magnesium alloys are invaluable, providing engineers and materials scientists with practical, high-performance and easy-to-use solutions for the long-term task of optimizing strength, weight, power and cost. challenge. Magnesium alloys offer many unique advantages over alternative materials.

Lightweight. With a density of 1.7g/cm3, magnesium is the lightest structural metal available. Its alloy is therefore ideal for projects where weight is a key consideration, with a weight advantage of 33% over aluminum and 50% over titanium. Especially in the automotive industry, the move towards electric and fuel-efficient vehicles will only accelerate the need for components to become lighter

Strong. Since magnesium has a hexagonal close-packed crystal structure, it naturally has good stiffness. Cast magnesium alloys have tensile strengths up to 280 MPa and yield strengths up to 160 MPa, while deformed magnesium alloys have tensile strengths up to 360 MPa and yield strengths up to 300 MPa.

Plentiful. Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element on Earth, making it a cost-effective and accessible option. Magnesium alloy is the third most popular non-ferrous casting material.

Ability to resist unwanted mechanical vibrations. Magnesium has the highest known damping capacity of any structural metal and can withstand 10 times more than aluminum, titanium or steel. It's also flexible and easy to machine and cast, which means it can be injection molded.

Can be widely recycled. Magnesium alloys do not present any toxic hazards, helping to improve the post-use green credentials of any project. It is also highly biocompatible – showing minimal levels of degradation or breakdown due to interaction with body fluids when used in cardiovascular or orthopedic devices.