|
|
 |
The World’s First Commercial Production of AZ91 Magnesium Alloy Sheet
～ The successful development of alloy sheet of high strength, good corrosion resistance, and excellent design capability on surface ～ |
|
|
January 14, 2010
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
|
|
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (President and CEO: Masayoshi Matsumoto) has currently succeeded in the development of AZ91 magnesium alloy sheet and its commercial production through a unique continuous casting process for the first time in the world.
Despite its outstanding corrosion resistance among magnesium alloys, AZ91 alloy has been used exclusively in the form of the cast material due to the difficulty of rolling and forming.
This new alloy sheet exceeds conventional AZ31 sheet and other magnesium alloy sheets in terms of strength and corrosion resistance. It also possesses an excellent design capability, allowing us to apply more sophisticated coating and aesthetically appealing finishing, such as metallic surface. These qualities of AZ91 alloy sheet make it ideal for use in various fields, such as the housing of portable electronic equipment and automotive interior trim components.
The features of the AZ91 alloy sheet are as follows:
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Dramatically improved strength and elongation in comparison to AZ91 cast components
Compared to AZ91 cast components, AZ91 alloy sheet exhibits a high strength of 380 MPa (improved by more than 1.5 times) and an excellent elongation of over 10% (enhanced by several times). AZ91 alloy sheet also exhibits the press workability equivalent to that of AZ31 alloy sheet under the optimized condition.
After a one-meter drop impact test conducted on concrete, a housing sample made of pressed AZ91 alloy sheet remained almost undented because of its high proof stress; while AZ91 cast components of the same thickness broke, and large dents were generated on conventional AZ31 and other aluminum alloy sheets.
|
(2) |
Great design capability in coating and finishing
AZ91 alloy sheet is adaptable to a wide range of paints, thereby enhancing flexibility in coating designs. Furthermore, diamond cutting and metallic finishing, which are not possible with conventional magnesium alloys, can be applied.
|
(3) |
Simple manufacturing process
The manufacturing process of AZ91 alloy sheet has been simplified in comparison to that of AZ31 alloy sheet, aiming to reduce costs and promote the dissemination of the magnesium alloy sheet.
|
(4) |
Application to a wide range of magnesium alloy sheets
Our unique manufacturing process can be applied to other magnesium alloys which can not be used as wrought alloys by conventional methods.
|
|
| |
|
Sumitomo Electric is moving ahead on the application of the magnesium alloy to a broad range of industrial fields, such as automotive, electronics, medical and welfare, robot, railroad car and aerospace.
[Support documentation]
(1) |
Magnesium：
Among metals in use, magnesium is the lightest, with a specific gravity lower than quarter of iron and about the same as two third of aluminum. In addition to its lightweight properties, magnesium features outstanding strength and rigidity per weight in comparison to iron and aluminum, thereby contributing to creating strong and light products. Furthermore, it is an environmentally-friendly metal because of the high energy efficiency and recyclable properties, and is also abundant in nature. |
(2) |
AZ91 Alloy： AZ91 alloy is a magnesium alloy to which some 9% of aluminum and 1% of zinc are added in order to improve its corrosion resistance. AZ91 cast alloy finds the application in the housing of mobile phones and laptop computers as well as the cored bar of wheels and other automotive components. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
