Physical Metallurgy of Magnesium Die Cast Alloys

Magnesium alloys offer the designer many unique properties not found in other alloy systems. Magnesium's low density and good strength have contributed to its successful use in a number of automotive applications. However, even with this successful track record, magnesium may still not be considered for future applications due to a lack of complete information about the metal and its alloys. This paper is intended to provide the automotive designer with a single source for properties by exploring the relationship between alloying elements and the physical and mechanical properties of die cast magnesium alloys.