LBW Of AZ31

A cast alloy is the one that is casted into the requisite shape from molten liquid metal,
whereas if there is special need then the alloy is mechanically deformed or forged or
rolled to required shape. The later is called as wrought alloy.

Wrought magnesium alloys have a special feature. Their compressive proof strength is smaller
than tensile proof strength. After forming, wrought magnesium alloys have a stringy texture in the
deformation direction, which increases the tensile proof strength. In compression the proof
strength is smaller because of twinning, which happens more easily in compression than in
tension in magnesium alloys because of the hexagonal lattice structure.

The specific strength is a material's strength (force per unit area at failure) divided by
its density. It is also known as the strength-to-weight ratio or strength/weight ratio.

Specific modulus is a materials property consisting of the elastic modulus per mass density of a
material. It is also known as the stiffness to weight ratio or specific stiffness. The utility of
specific modulus is to find materials which will produce structures with minimum weight, when the
primary design limitation is deflection or physical deformation, rather than load at breaking—this
is also known as a "stiffness-driven" structure. Many common structures are stiffness-driven over
much of their use, such as airplane wings, bridges, masts, and bicycle frames.

Stiffness is the rigidity of an object — the extent to which it resists deformation in response to an
applied force.

 Automotive applications
 Today's interest in magnesium alloys for automotive applications is based on the

combination of high strength properties and low density. In automotive applications weight
reduction will improve the performance of a vehicle by reducing the rolling resistance and energy
is used in acceleration, thus reducing fuel consumption and, moreover, a reduction in the
greenhouse gas CO2 can be achieved.
 In the 1920s magnesium began to make an appearance in the automotive industry. The

light weight metal began to be used in racing car adding to their competitive edge. About a
decade later, magnesium began to be used in commercial vehicles such as the Volkswagen
Beetle which contained about 20kg (44.09lbs) of the material. Interest in using magnesium in
automotive applications has increased over the past decade in response to the increasing
environmental and legislative influences. Fuel efficiency, increased performance and
sustainability are top-of-mind issues.
 The use of magnesium in vehicles can, and does, lower overall weight and improves

each of these conditions. Many large automotive companies have already replaced steel and
aluminum with magnesium in various parts of their products. Audi, DaimlerChrysler (Mercedes-
 Benz), Ford, Jaguar, Fiat and Kia Motors Corporation are just a few of these companies.
Magnesium is currently being used in gearboxes, steering columns and driver’s air bag housings
as well as in steering wheels, seat frames and fuel tank covers.

 The use of magnesium in automotive applications can

provide more than just weight savings. For many years, the desire to identify challenges,
solutions, and opportunities regarding the use of magnesium in vehicles has been growing.
Magnesium usage on the front end of a vehicle provides not just a lower overall mass for the car,
but also allows for the shifting of the center of gravity towards the rear improving the car’s
handling and turning capabilities. In addition, frequencies that reduce vibration and overall noise
can be achieved through the tuning of magnesium parts. Steel components in vehicles can be
replaced by a single cast piece of magnesium adding to the strength of the material and allowing
for housings to be cast into place. This castability also requires less tooling and fewer gauges,
which lowers manufacturing costs.
 According to the United States Automotive Materials Partnership (USAMP), it is

estimated that by 2020, 350 lbs of magnesium will replace 500 lbs of steel and 130lbs of
aluminum per vehicle, an overall weight reduction of 15%. In turn, this weight saving would lead
to fuel savings of 9% to12% without any drastic changes in design. Considering the large number
of vehicles produced worldwide, these weight savings could lead to a significant drop in the
carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, reducing its harmful impact on global warming. It is
for this reason that magnesium is known as the green metal of the 21st century.
 Currently, multiple automobile parts can be made from magnesium alloys such as engine

block, wheels, steering columns, seats, front consoles, and hoods .

 Aerospace applications
  Cars, vans and trucks are not the only vehicles that
have incorporated magnesium in their designs. The aerospace industry has a long history of
using the metal in many applications both civil and military. It is critical to lower the weight of air
and space craft, as well as projectiles, if we are to achieve decreases in emissions and greater
fuel efficiency. These changes will result in lower operational costs as well. Magnesium is an
ideal material for use in these applications, due to limited continuing improvements on aluminum
weight reduction, the high cost of fiber metal laminates, and the poor impact and damage
properties of low density plastics when subjected to extreme temperatures. Magnesium can be
found in the thrust reversers for the Boeing 737, 747, 757, and 767, as well as in engines and
aircraft and helicopter transmission casings.
 Spacecraft and missiles also contain magnesium and its alloys. Lift-off weight reduction

is of high importance in their design and a material is needed that can withstand the extreme
conditions faced during their operation. Magnesium is capable of withstanding the extreme
elevated temperatures, exposure to ozone and the impact of high energy particles and
matter. It is also used in large quantity in intercontinental ballistic missiles such as Titan, Atlas
and Agena.

 Medical Applications

 In the 1st half of last century, magnesium was first introduced in

the medical industry as an orthopedic biomaterial. There are many characteristics and properties
that make magnesium a very attractive option for use in implants and similar applications. Other
common implant materials have densities that range from 3.1-9.2g/cm3, whereas the density of
 natural bone is 1.8-2.1g/cm3 (112.37-131.10lb/ft3). Magnesium alloys are much more
comparable, at a density of 1.74-2.0g/cm3 (108.62-lb/ft3). Magnesium is also much more akin to
natural bone than other materials in regards to fracture toughness, elastic modulus and
compressive yield strength. Not only does magnesium provide the mechanical and physical
properties desirable in these applications, it also exhibits some special characteristics.
 Magnesium is found naturally as an ion in the human body equating to about one mole in

a 155lb (70kg) person, half of which is stored within bone tissue. Magnesium within the body
assists in metabolic reactions, has good biocompatibility, and is nontoxic. In addition, uncoated
magnesium implants can be biodegradable in bodily fluids through corrosion, which eliminates
the need for a further surgery to remove implants. Application of protective coatings can prevent
corrosion issues in situations where a more permanent solution is needed. Research and testing
of different alloys and formulas for protective finishes is currently in progress with the aim of
increasing the array of ways in which magnesium can be used in medical applications.

 Electronic applications

 In the current market, small and portable electronics are trending upward. The demand

for compact devices that can be easily transported is booming and magnesium is often a key
component in meeting this demand. Many magnesium alloys being used to replace plastics are
just as light, but they are much stronger and more durable. Magnesium is also better in
regards to heat transfer and dissipation as well as its ability to shield electromagnetic and
radio frequency interference. Many electronics require parts or casings with complex shapes
which are possible with magnesium. Cameras, cell phones, laptops and portable media device
housings are all common applications in addition to the arms of hard drives.


 Sports applications
 Similar to its applications in other industries, magnesium is prized for use in sports

equipment due to its light weight and impact resistance. Magnesium also has the ability to be
formed into intricate shapes, which is ideal for use in golf clubs, tennis rackets and the handles of
archery bows. The damping effects of the alloys also make it a good candidate for bicycle frames
and the chassis of in-line skates, since the magnesium can absorb shock and vibration. This
absorption allows cyclists to exert less energy and enjoy a smoother, more comfortable ride.
Magnesium vaulting poles have also come into production as they have minimal twisting due
to their high torsional strain resistance.

γ-Al12Mg17 (Mg17Al12) Crystal Structure

 The focal length is positive for a concave mirror, and negative for a convex mirror

 X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) is a rapid analytical technique primarily used for
phase identification of a crystalline material and can provide information on unit cell
dimensions

 Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS, EDX, EDXS or XEDS), sometimes

called energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) or energy dispersive X-ray
microanalysis (EDXMA), is an analytical technique used for the elemental
analysis or chemical characterization of a sample
Notch strength ratio (NSR) is the ratio between the tensile strength of notched specimen at
maximum load to the ultimate tensile strength of unnotched specimen.

Joint efficiency is a ratio between the tensile strength of welded joint and the tensile strength
of unwelded parent metal

Equiaxed crystals are crystals that have axes of approximately the same length.

Discussion.
 The heat input is directly related to the laser power and welding speed,
 This is mainly because relatively lower heat input leads to the formation of finer grains and finer
precipitates.

The grains in fusion zone get coarser while increasing the heat input (Fig. 5(c)). This phenomenon
can also be explained by the change of cooling rate. It is known that an increase in heat input will
result in slow cooling rate. Moreover, the slower the cooling rate during solidification, the longer the
time available for grain coarsening. In contrast, the decrease in laser power leads to decrease in
heat input. This leads to faster the cooling rate and subsequently finer the grain size of fusion zone
[16]. It can also be noted that the precipitate concentration in the fusion zone is more, as the heat
input is increased. This is mainly due to the decreased cooling rate with increasing heat input. QUAN
et al [17] reported that during the laser welding process, the melt alloy was quickly solidified and
cooled to room temperature, and the maximum solid solubility of Al decreased immediately from
12.7% to about 2.0% (mass fraction). The remnant Al was precipitated as γ-Mg17Al12 phase. The
more concentration of precipitates deteriorated the tensile properties of the joints. In contrast, with
decreasing the heat input, the cooling rate increased, so most Al atoms could not return to the grain
boundary in time, and the concentration of precipitates was moderate (Fig. 5(a)).

The welding speed is always in inverse proportion with heat input. An increase in welding speed
leads to a decrease in heat input. The microstructure of the laser welds is a high-speed process in
which heat is rapidly extracted from the molten fusion zone by the surrounding base material. So,
the grain growth can be minimized at high welding speeds, and the finer grains are obtained in the
fusion zone [18]. In contrast, as the welding speed decreases, the heat input increases subsequently.
Lower welding speed results in higher heat input and slow cooling rate leads to grain coarsening. It
can also be noted that the precipitate concentration in the fusion zone is more, as the welding
speed is decreased (Fig. 6(a)). The concentration of precipitates is moderate, as the welding speed is
increased (Fig. 6(c)).

Using a focused beam results in the increase of the power density, which means the heat will
localize in small metal portion. The position that gave the maximum power density was deemed the
focal position. When the focal position was 0 mm, higher power density or longer interaction time
was obtained. This promoted the grain growth in the fusion zone (Fig. 7(a)). When the focal position
was −1.5 mm, the optimum weld was obtained. The optimum power density (35 605 W/mm2) might
have reduced the grain size (Fig. 7(b)) which resulted in the increase of tensile strength. The
optimum power density was characterized by the formation of finer precipitates in the fusion zone.

X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) is a rapid analytical technique primarily used for phase
identification of a crystalline material and can provide information on unit cell dimension
X-ray diffraction is now a common technique for the study of crystal structures and
atomic spacing.