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Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich
There are three main groups of magnesium alloys (both wrought and cast):
These alloys have good weldability and are used for manufacturing thin plates.
These alloys are manufactured by Die casting, Sand casting, Permanent mold casting, Forging and Extrusion. The alloys are heat-treatable.
These alloys have high impact toughness, good corrosion resistance and machinability. The alloys are heat-treatable.
Classification of magnesium alloys was developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
The designation system uses the following combination of letters and numbers for identification of the alloys:
The first two letters indicate the major alloying elements in the alloy according to the following codes:
A – Aluminum (Al),
B – Bismuth (Bi),
C – Copper (Cu),
D – Cadmium (Cd),
E – Rare earth elements,
F – Iron (Fe),
H – Thorium (Th),
K – Zirconium (Zr),
L – Beryllium (Be),
M – Manganese (Mn),
N – Nickel (Ni),
P – Lead (Bb),
Q – Arsenic (As),
R – Chromium (Cr),
S – Silicon (Si),
T – Tin (Sn),
Z – Zinc (Zn).
The two letters are followed by two numbers, indicating the concentration of the major alloying elements.
The fifth symbol is a letter, signifying the alloy modification.
The alloy code is followed by a designation of temper. The temper designation system of magnesium alloys is similar to the Temper designation of aluminum alloys:
F –As fabricated;
O – Annealed;
H – Cold worked;
T4 – Solution treatment;
T5 – Artificial aging;
T6 – Solution treatment followed by artificial aging.
Example:
Alloy designated as ZE63A-T6 is magnesium alloy, containing 6% (rounded off) of zinc (symbol Z) and about 3% (rounded off) of rare earth elements (symbol E).
Modification of the alloy – A.
The temper of the alloy is solution treatment followed by artificial aging (T6).
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