A Review on “Magnesium Alloy Applications”

Abstract

Magnesium alloys are the lightest structural alloys, but they have issues that need to be overcome both in terms of processing and use. This paper highlights some approaches that have been able to provide solutions, or at least partial solutions, to these problems. This paper shows how a combination of temperature, grain size, and alloy composition can improve extrudability mechanical properties, and joining operations. Furthermore, it shows applications where the unique properties of magnesium alloys can be used to improve energy absorption during deformation. Lighter, more fuel-efficient cars are the way of the future. Magnesium alloys are the lightest of all metals and increasing their use will assist with attaining that goal. However, they deform differently than steel and aluminium alloys, so they need to be treated a bit differently and be used in the right applications. This work presents a new alloy that can be processed into shape more easily, a way of joining magnesium components without cracking, and how there are parts of a car’s crash structure that will benefit from the use of magnesium, but other places where currently other metals are still better.