Bolt-Load Retention and Creep of Die-Cast Magnesium Alloys

New high-temperature Mg alloys are being considered to replace 380 Al in transmission cases, wherein bolt-load retention, and creep, is of prime concern. One of these alloys is die cast AE42, which has much better creep properties than does AZ91D but is still not as creep resistant as 380 Al. It is thus important to investigate bolt-load retention and creep of AE42 as an initial step in assessing its suitability as a material for transmission housings. To that end, the bolt-load retention behavior of die-cast AE42, AZ91D and 380 Al have been examined using standard M10 bolts specially instrumented with stable high-temperature strain gages. The bolt-load retention test pieces were die cast in geometries approximating the flange and boss regions in typical bolted joints. Bolt-load retention properties were examined as a function of time (at least 100 hours), temperature (150 and 175 °C) and initial bolt preload (14 to 34 kN). We have also investigated the creep properties of these alloys from 150 to 175 °C and under initial applied stresses between 20 and 185 MPa. The best creep resistance and stress relaxation properties are exhibited by 380 Al, followed by AE42 and AZ91D. We also present an approach to predicting bolt-load retention behavior from creep curves.