Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys

Magnesium and magnesium alloys are nonferrous metals with low density, good ductility, moderate strength and good corrosion resistance. When used an alloying agent, they can improve the mechanical, fabrication, and welding characteristics of aluminum. Some magnesium and magnesium alloys are used as lightweight materials in vehicles such as cars and trucks. These magnesium alloys have a relatively low density and can help improve fuel efficiency. Magnesium-base alloys are also used in airplanes and aerospace applications because of their relatively low density compared to aluminum. Magnesium can also be alloyed with lead, zinc and other nonferrous composites. A magnesium alloy can include yttrium to provide increased strength.

There are several major types of magnesium and magnesium alloys: RZ5, WE43, MSR, and EQ21. RZ5 is a magnesium-casting alloy that contains zinc, rare earth metals, and zirconium. RZ5 is used in helicopter gearboxes, video cameras, high-performance vehicles, computer parts, and military equipment. WE43 is a high-strength, isotropic, magnesium-based alloy that is valued for its long-term stability at high temperatures. WE43 is used in aircraft, aerospace engines and high-performance vehicles. MSR is the most common type of magnesium and magnesium alloys. MSR is fully heat-treatable and contains silver and rare earth metals. EQ21 also contains silver and rare earth metals, but has less silver than MSR. EQ21 alloys retain their properties at elevated temperatures and are suitable for aerospace, automotive, and military applications.

Magnesium and magnesium alloys meet the compositional standards of the Unified Numbering System (UNS), a specification established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and metal trade associations such as the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Aluminum Association (AA). The UNS assigns metals and alloys a lettered prefix and a five-digit number. Other standards for magnesium and magnesium alloys include European Norm (EN) and U.S. military specifications (MIL-SPEC). QQ and QQS prefixes are used to designate specific MIL-SPEC metals.

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Part Numbers for Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys