Magnesium alloy billet

01

Choose the alloy for the forming route

Gontarz and co-authors (Lublin and Częstochowa Universities of Technology and ZOP forging plant, Materials 14:32, 2021) give compositions for three Mg-Al-Zn alloys: AZ31B with 2.5–3.5% Al, 0.6–1.4% Zn and 0.2–1.0% Mn; AZ61A with 5.8–7.2% Al, 0.4–1.5% Zn and 0.15–0.5% Mn; and AZ80A with 7.8–9.2% Al, 0.2–0.8% Zn and 0.12–0.5% Mn; each with at most 0.005% Fe, 0.10% Si, 0.05% Cu and 0.005% Ni. They describe AZ31B as suitable for hot working, at about 240 MPa tensile strength, 150 MPa yield, 9% elongation and 50–55 HB, and note that the alloys differ mainly in aluminium, which strongly affects workability. Round bars are the usual forging billet, with slabs or cast preforms for flatter parts. [1]

TMS (Materials Technology@TMS) charts list AZ31B, AZ61A, AZ80A, ZK60A and others among magnesium extrusion alloys and AZ31B, AZ61A, AZ80A, ZK60A, ZK31, WE43A and WE54A among forging alloys, with ZK60A given as 4.8–6.2% Zn and at least 0.45% Zr. [2]

Editorial note: name the alloy designation and the specification it must meet, because the impurity limits for iron, nickel and copper govern corrosion behaviour; ask for a cast or lot analysis covering every listed element.

For rare-earth alloys made as large billets, a 2026 study (Materials 19(2):282) cast a 330 mm diameter Mg-9.4Gd-5.8Y-1Zn-0.5Zr billet by semi-continuous casting with an electromagnetic vibration field, at 760–770 °C and 31–35 mm/min. Grain size across the billet ranged from 117 to 130 µm and Gd and Y segregation stayed below 3%. Homogenising at 520 °C for 5 h dissolved the grain-boundary eutectic and gave 208.4 MPa tensile strength with 24.4% elongation; the authors also tested 470 °C and holding times of 5–20 h. [3]

Editorial note: for large rare-earth billets, ask the supplier for grain size and Gd/Y segregation measured at the centre, mid-radius and edge, and for the homogenisation temperature and time applied before shipment. [3]

For a rare-earth wrought grade sold as feedstock, Luxfer MEL Technologies lists Elektron RotaMag 43 (UNS M18434, ASTM WE43C) with 3.7–4.3% yttrium, 2.3–3.5% rare earths and at least 0.2% zirconium, supplied as rolled plate, forging feedstock and extruded bar, section and profile under AMS 4485 and ASTM B107/B107M for extrusions. For extruded bar in the artificially aged T5 condition it gives longitudinal specification minima (A-basis) of 195 MPa 0.2% proof stress, 303 MPa tensile strength and 6% elongation, states that T5 properties depend on the extruded profile, and reports up to 300 MPa proof, 375 MPa tensile strength and 11% elongation demonstrated. Listed physical values are specific gravity 1.83, modulus 44.1 GPa, melting range 540–640 °C and Brinell hardness 70–90, with an axial fatigue value (ASTM E466, R=0.1) of 195 MPa at 50 million cycles for extruded bar; Luxfer rates the alloy for use up to 250 °C. [4]

Give the supplier the alloy designation and specification, forming route (extrusion, forging, rolling), billet condition (as-cast, homogenised, extruded), diameter or section and tolerance, cut length, surface condition (as-cast, scalped, machined), grain size or structure requirement, ultrasonic or other inspection, chemical and mechanical certificates, packing against moisture, and quantity per lot.

02

Set preheat, forging speed and structure

The same study notes that magnesium alloys are highly strain-rate sensitive with a narrow forging temperature window, so they are forged mainly on low-speed hydraulic presses with heated tools. Upset tests on 20 mm × 30 mm specimens preheated to 350, 410 and 450 °C, on a screw press at 0.5 m/s and a hammer at about 5 m/s with tools at about 300 °C, showed AZ31B workable at 410 °C on both machines, AZ61A satisfactory on the screw press but only for simple shapes on the hammer, and AZ80A unsuitable for either high-speed machine. Grain size grew with temperature: ASTM grain size number 12 at 350 °C and 8–11 at 450 °C. For alloys prone to grain growth forged in a sequence of operations, the cited guidance is to lower the forging temperature by about 15–20 °C in each successive operation and to water-cool forgings to stop recrystallisation. [1]

Editorial calculation: using the ASTM E112 values in the paper, grain size number 12 corresponds to an average diameter of 5.6 µm and numbers 8–11 to 22.5–7.9 µm, so raising preheat from 350 °C to 450 °C coarsened the grains up to about four times in diameter in these tests. [1]

Editorial note: if the billet will be forged, ask the supplier for the recommended preheat range for the alloy and condition supplied and whether the billet is homogenised, and plan press speed and die heating with the forger.

03

Find magnesium alloy billet manufacturers

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04

Compare the alloy options

Values from the sources cited; check the current specification for your market.

05

Fill the specification fields with values for your parts

A magnesium billet quotation needs values for your parts and process. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to obtain from the supplier.

06

Send the alloy, route and size together

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Alloy: [designation; specification]
Route: [extrusion; forging; rolling]
Condition: [as-cast; homogenised; extruded]
Size: [diameter; length; tolerance]
Quality: [impurities; grain size; inspection]
Supply: [packing; certificates; quantity]

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