Room Temperature Formable and Ductile Hexagonal Magnesium Alloys
- Technology Benefits
- Easily formable at room temperature No thermo-mechanical processing
- Detailed Technology Description
- A strategy to produce magnesium alloys that are highly formable and ductile at room temperature.#materials #metals
- *Abstract
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Magnesium's density is 34% less than that of aluminum. For weight saving and better energy efficiency the aerospace and automotive industries want to increase the use of magnesium alloys. However, because of its hexagonal crystal structure magnesium and its current alloys crack easily at room temperature. Magnesium alloys thus lack the needed ductility and formability at room temperature, therefore, they are mainly used as-cast or they are formed (pressed, stamped, etc.) at elevated temperatures. Northwestern researchers have developed a strategy to produce magnesium alloys that are highly formable and ductile at room temperature. The method includes creation of nano-sized precipitates in magnesium alloy matrix by addition of alloying elements and by specific heat-treatment. These precipitates lower the energy for dislocation movement and increase the number of available slip systems in magnesium alloy at room temperature and hence improve ductility and formability.
- *Inventors
- Morris E. FineSemyon VaynmanEvan HuntAkio UrakamiYip-Wah Chung*Johannes Weertman
- Country/Region
- USA
