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  MSE / Research / Projects / Focused Research Group onFundamental Aspects of Design of New Structural Magnesium Alloys

Focused Research Group onFundamental Aspects of Design of New Structural Magnesium Alloys
Collaborators: J.W. Jones, University of Michigan, S. Kuo and A. Chang, University of Wisconson, J.A. Alison, Ford Motor Company
Materials: Metals
Application: Structural
Technique: Processing Characterization

The objective of this multi-institutional Focused Research Group (FRG) is to investigate fundamental aspects of solidification, phase equilibria and deformation mechanisms in order to establish a strong foundation for the design of future high temperature magnesium systems. To accomplish this, a collaborative program between the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin and the Ford Motor Company is underway. The overall approach consists of (1) selection of promising systems upon which future alloy development programs are likely to be conducted, (2) establishment of full thermodynamic descriptions of these systems through a combined modeling and experimental effort, (3) evaluation of key aspects of the solidification behavior of these systems under realistic casting conditions and (4) investigation of the mechanisms of high temperature deformation and associated high temperature creep properties.

Magnesium alloys, due to their high specific strength and lowest density among all structural alloys, offer great potential in structural applications where reduction of system weight is critical. The use of magnesium alloys in automotive applications, for example, has been rising rapidly in the last decade as refinements in alloy composition, processing and component design have created marked improvements in performance and durability of alloys for ambient temperature applications. The growing demands for improved fuel efficiency and ease of recycling, coupled with the prospects of higher performance alloys, provide a driving force for increased use of magnesium alloys in elevated temperature automotive applications. The most promising scenario for high temperature automotive magnesium alloys appears to be through the introduction of relatively inexpensive rare earth (RE) additions and other low cost elements that can form stable intermetallic phases with high melting points. A number of alloys based on Mg-Al-RE have been developed, where rare earth additions are made via inexpensive mischmetal that contains Ce, La and Nd as the primary rare earth elements. The use of these alloys in automotive components is very limited at present. Also, because of the use of mischmetal, there is presently inadequate knowledge of the individual effects of these rare earths on microstructure, solidification behavior and creep properties.
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