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Concrete Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Measurement System

Properties of Cast Magnesium Alloys

The following information is reproduced with kind permission of ASM International.

The information on alloy properties is restricted at the moment to cast AM60 and AZ91 alloys. Hopefully, other alloys will be able to be
added in the future. To use the table below, just click on the X that corresponds to the alloy and property classification that you are after.

PROPERTY AM60 AZ91

Specifications X X
Chemical Composition X X
Applications X X
Mechanical Properties X X
Mass Characteristics X X
Thermal Properties X X
Electical Properties - X
Fabrication Characteristics X X
Corrosion Resistance X X

Cast Magnesium Alloys

AM60A, AM60B
Specifications
ASTM. Die castings: B 94
UNS numbers. AM60A: M10600. AM60B: M10603
Other. German: DIN 1729 3.5662

Chemical Composition
Composition limits of AM60A
5.5-6.5% Al
0.13% Mn min.
0.50% Si max.
0.35% Cu max.
0.22% Zn max.
0.03% Ni max.
balance Mg

Composition limits of AM60B

5.5 to 6.5 Al
0.25% Mn min.
0.10% Si max.
0.22% Zn max.
0.005% Fe max.
0.010% Cu max.
0.002% Ni max.
0.003% max. other (total)
balance Mg.

If the Mn content is less than 0.25% or the Fe content in AM60B exceeds 0.005%, then the Fe-Mn ratio will not exceed 0.010 and corrosion
resistance will rapidly decrease.

Consequence of exceeding impurity limits

Corrosion resistance decreases with increasing Fe, Cu, or Ni content.

Applications
Typical uses
Die casting alloy used as-cast (F) temper for production of automotive wheels and other parts requiring good elongation and toughness
combined with reasonable yield and tensile properties.

Mechanical Properties
Tensile properties
F temper:
Tensile strength: 220 MPa (32 ksi)
Yield strength: 130 MPa (19 ksi)
Elongation: 6% in 50 mm (2 in.)

Compressive yield strength

F temper: 130 MPa (19ksi)

Poisson’s ratio
0.35

Elastic modulus

Tension, 45 GPa (6.5 x 106 psi)

Mass Characterisitics
Density

1.8 g/cm3 (0.065 lb/in.3) at 20ºC (68ºF).

Thermal Properties
Liquidus temperature
615ºC (1140ºF)

Solidus temperature
540ºC (1005ºF).

Coefficient of linear thermal expansion

25.6 µm/m.K (14.2 µin/in.ºF) at 20 to 100ºC (68 to 212ºF).

Thermal conductivity
62 W/m.K (36 Btu/ft.h.ºF) at 20ºC (68ºF).

Fabrication Characteristics
Casting temperature

650 to 695oC (1200 to 1280oF)

Weldability
Not weldable.

Corrosion Resistance
ASTM B 177 salt spray test

AM60B: <0.13 mg/cm2 /day (<20 mils/yr).

AZ91A, AZ91B, AZ91C, AZ91D, AZ91E

Specifications
AMS
Die castings: AZ91A, 4490.
Sand castings: AZ91C, 4437; AZ91E, 4446.

ASTM
Die castings: AZ91A, AZ91B, and AZ91D; B 94.
Sand castings: AZ91C and AZ91E; B 80.
Permanent mold castings: AZ9C and AZ91E; B 199.
Investment castings: AZ91C and AZ91E; B 403.
Ingot: B 93.

SAE
J465. Former SAE alloy numbers:
AZ91A, 501;
AZ91B, 501A;
AZ91C, 504.

UNS numbers
AZ91A: M11910.
AZ91B: M11912.
AZ91C: M11914.
AZ91D: M11916.
AZ91E: M11921.

Government
Die castings: AZ91A, QQ-M38.
Permanent mold castings: AZ91C, QQ-M-55 and MIL-M-46062.
Sand castings: AZ91C, QQ-M-56, and MIL-M-46062.

Other
Elektron: AZ91.
British: BS 2970 MAG3.
French: AIR 3380 G-AZ91.
German: DIN 1729 3.5912.

Chemical Composition
Composition limits of AZ91A
8.3-9.7% Al
0.13% Mn min.
0.35-1.0% Zn
0.50% Si max.
0.10% Cu max.
0.03% Ni max.
0.30% max. other
balance Mg.

Composition limits of AZ91B

8.3-9.7% Al
0.13% Mn min.
0.35-1.0% Zn
0.50% Si max.
0.35% Cu max.
0.03% Ni max.
0.30% max. other
balance Mg.

Composition limits of AZ91C

8.1-9.3% Al
0.13% Mn min.
0.40-1.0% Zn
0.30% Si max.
0.10% Cu max.
0.01% Ni max.
0.3% max. other (total)
balance Mg.

Composition limits of AZ91D

8.3-9.7% Al
0.15% Mn min.
0.35-1.0% Zn
0.10% Si max.
0.005% Fe max.
0.030% Cu max.
0.002% Ni max.
0.02% max. other (each)
balance Mg.

Composition limits of AZ91E

8.1-9.3% Al
0.17-0.35% Mn
0.4-1.0% Zn
0.20% Si max.
0.005% Fe max.
0.015% Cu max.
0.0010% Ni max.
0.01% max. other (each)
0.30% max. other (total) Close Ad

Consequence of exceeding impurity limits

Corrosion resistance decreases with increasing Fe, Cu or Ni content.
More than 0.5% Si decreases elongation.
If Fe content exceeds 0.005% in AZ91D or AZ91E the permissable Fe-Mn ratio will not exceed 0.032 and corrosion resistance will
rapidly decrease.

Applications
Typical uses
AZ91A, AZ91B, and AZ91D which have the same nominal composition except for iron, copper, and nickel contents, are die casting
 alloys used in the as-cast condition (F temper).
AZ91D is a high-purity alloy which has excellent corrosion resistance. It is the most commonly used magnesium die casting alloy.
AZ91A and AZ91B can be made from secondary metal, reducing the cost of the alloy. They must be used when maximum corrosion
resistance is not required.
AZ91E is a high-purity alloy with excellent corrosion resistance used in pressure-tight sand and permanent mold castings with high
tensile strength and moderate yield strength.
AZ91C is used in sand and permanent mold castings when maxim corrosion resistance is not required.

Corrosion Resistance
ASTM B 117 Salt spray test

AZ91D: less than 0.13 mg/cm2/day (less than 10 mils/yr).

AZ91E-T6: less than 0.63 mg/cm2/day (less than 50 mils/yr).

Mechanical Properties
Tensile properties
See Tables 27 and 28.

Shear strength
AZ91A, AZ91B, and AZ91D: F temper; 140 Mpa (20 ksi)

Compressive yield strength

See Table 27.

Bearing properties
See Table 27.

Hardness
See Table 27.

Poisson’s ratio
0.35

Elastic modulus

Tension, 45 GPa (6.5 x 106 psi)

Shear, 17 GPa (2.4 x 106 psi)

Impact strength
See Table 27.

Fatigue strength
R.R. Moore type tests.
At 5 x 108 cycles: AZ91A, AZ91B, and AZ91D (F temper): 97 MPa (14 ksi)
At 1 x 108 cycles: AZ91C and AZ91E: 80-95 MPa (12 to 14 ksi).

Mass Characteristics
Density

1.81 g/cm3 (0.066 lb/in.3) at 20ºC (68ºF).

Thermal Properties
Liquidus temperature
595ºC (1105ºF)

Solidus temperature
470ºC (875ºF)

Coefficient of linear thermal expansion

26 µm/m.K (14 µin./in.F) at 20 to 100ºC (68 to 212ºF).

Specific heat
1.05 kJ/kg.K (0.25 Btu/lb.ºF) at 20ºC (68ºF).

Latent heat of fusion

373 kJ/kg (160 Btu/lb)

Thermal conductivity
72 W/m.K (41.8 Btu/ft.h.ºF) at 100 to 300ºC (212 to 572ºF).

Incipient melting temperature

421ºC (790ºF)

Electrical Properties
Electrical conductivity
AZ91A:
F temper, 10.1% IACS.
AZ91C and AZ91E:
F temper, 11.5%, IACS
T4 temper, 9.9%, IACS
T6 temper, 11.2% IACS

Electrical resistivity
AZ91A, AZ91B, and AZ91D:
F temper, 170 nohm.m
AZ91C and AZ91E:
F temper, 150 nohm.m
T4 temper, 175 nohm.m
T6 temper, 151.5 nohm.m

Electrolyte solution potential

1.58 V versus saturated calomel electrode.

Hydrogen overvoltage
As-cast, 0.40 V

Fabrication Characteristics
Casting temperature
AZ91C and AZ91E:
Sand castings, 705 to 845ºC (1300 to 1550ºF)
Permanent mold castings, 650 to 815ºC (1200 to 1500ºF)
AZ91A, AZ91B and AZ91D:
Die castings, 625 to 700 ºC (1160 to 1290ºF)

Weldability
AZ91C and AZ91E can be readily welded by the gas-shielded arc process using AZ91C or AZ92A rod; stress relief required.
AZ91A, AZ91B and AZ91D not weldable.

Hot-shortness temperature
400ºC (750ºF)

Table 27 - Typical room temperature mechanical properties of AZ91 castings

AZ91A,B,D AZ91C,E
Property F Temper F Temper T4 Temper T6 Temper
Tensile strength, MPa (ksi) 230 (33) 165 (24) 275 (40) 275 (40)
Tensile yield strength, MPa (ksi) 150 (22) 97 (14) 90 (13) 145 (21)
Elongation in 50 mm (2 in.), % 3 2.5 15 6
Compressive yield strength at 0.2% offset, MPa (ksi) 165 (24) 97 (14) 90 (13) 130 (19)
Ultimate bearing strength, MPa (ksi) - 415 (60) 415 (60) 515 (75)
Bearing yield strength, MPa (ksi) - 275 (40) 305 (44) 360 (52)
Hardness, HB 63 60 55 70
Hardness, HRE 75 66 62 77
Charpy V-notch impact strength, J (ft.lbf) 2.7 (2.0) 0.79 (0.58) 4.1 (3.0) 1.4 (1.0)

Table 28 - Typical tensile properties of AZ91C-T6 sand castings at elevated temperatures

Testing Temperature Tensile Strength Yield Strength Elongation

ºC ºF MPa ksi MPa ksi in 50 mm %
150 300 185 27 97 14 40
240 400 115 27 83 12 40

The information displayed on this page is indicative only. The editors do not take any responsibility for the accuracy and relevance of the
information supplied and expressly exclude liability for and damage, loss or injury that a person may suffer as a result of using the above
information.

For more information and comments about this page please contact Nigel Ricketts

Pine Test Equipment, LLC

pineinstrument.com
Concrete Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Measurement System