Abstract
Interest in magnesium alloys and their applications has risen in recent years. This trend is mainly evident in casting applications, but wrought alloys are also increasingly coming into focus. Among the most common forming processes, forging is a promising candidate for the industrial production of magnesium wrought products. This review is intended to give a general introduction into the forging of magnesium alloys and to help in the practical realization of forged products. The basics of magnesium forging practice are described and possible problems as well as material properties are discussed. Several alloy systems containing aluminum, zinc or rare earth elements as well as biodegradable alloys are evaluated. Overall, the focus of the review is on the process control and processing parameters, from stock material to finished parts. A discussion of the mechanical properties is included. These data have been comprehensively reviewed and are listed for a variety of magnesium forging alloys.
Highlights
Magnesium, the world’s lightest structural metal, has attracted much attention in recent years
In the overview on Magnesium presented by Gann [18] in 1930/31, the importance of moderate forming-speeds is highlighted and press-forging is recommended in lieu of drop-forging
It might be beneficial to look at the conclusions drawn and prospects given at the dawn of Mg production, three quotes from a review authored by Haughton in 1939 are discussed briefly in the following: The reactive nature of magnesium has seriously interfered with its much wider adoption; to those who still associate the metal mainly with the ribbon which is burned to give a flashlight for photography, it seems incredible that magnesium can be used for structural purposes [22]
Summary
The world’s lightest structural metal, has attracted much attention in recent years. Intensive efforts to reduce weight made in the past are well known and have repeatedly resulted in substantial changes in the choice of materials (e.g., from steel parts to multi material mixes) and designs (e.g., introduction of space frames) These different potential applications require materials with a multitude of properties. Forged Mg parts seem to be especially well suited for applications in the transport sector Magnesium alloys, their properties, applications and possible developments have been described in various studies throughout the years [1,2,3,4,5]. While forged Mg products are presented in various scientific studies, industrial applications are still mostly confined to high-priced applications for sports and military use These products highlight the possible benefits and performance of forged Mg alloys. This work does neither include publications about powder or thixo forging nor forgings for the sole purpose of grain refinement (e.g., multi axial forging)
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