What is Magnesium Die Casting

Magnesium Alloys are-

 Extremely lightweight
 Melted at a low temperature
 Easily machinable
 Costlier than Aluminum & Zinc
 Highly reactive

Therefore, Magnesium Die Casting–

 Requires a hot chamber die casting machine
 Has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio
 Can retain strength at high temperatures
 Has bad corrosion resistance
 Has good RFI and EMI shielding properties
Magnesium is known to produce the lightest structural components out of all commonly used
metals. So, magnesium’s ultra-lightweight is a unique feature. Therefore, it is the main reason
for its exclusive demand in some industries.

Process of Magnesium Die Casting

We have classified the magnesium die casting process into the following number of steps for
easier understanding.
5 Steps for Magnesium Die Casting Process:
1. Die Preparation
2. Injection
3. Solidification
4. Ejection
5. Trimming/Machining
Die Preparation

Before every casting cycle, the die has to be thoroughly cleaned and lubricated. Firstly, clean
the die halves with a sprayer mechanism to remove any residue from the previous cycle.
Then, spray lubricant onto the die to prepare it for the next cycle.

Injection

Molten magnesium is stored in a furnace located inside the hot chamber equipment. The
injection mechanism remains submerged into the furnace. There, a plunger forces the melted
magnesium alloy inside the mold cavity through a gooseneck.

Solidification

Once the mold cavity has been filled, leave it alone for a specified period. Then, the casting
will cool down and solidify.

Ejection

After the casting becomes solid, separate the die halves. Then, an ejection mechanism within
the moving die half will eject the casting.

Trimming/Machining

Then remove the excess material from the casting using a trim die. It can be machined as well
to introduce other features that were hard to implement during casting.
What are the Applications of Magnesium Die Casting?
The main scope of application for magnesium castings is where lightweight components are
required. You can also use it to shield electronic components from EMI/RFI. Additionally,
Magnesium is often alloyed with other materials to suit the requirements of an application.

We have described the main applications of magnesium die casting below:

 Magnesium parts serve as excellent enclosures for electronic and telecommunication

equipment.
 You can use magnesium alloy die casting to create efficient thermal imaging camera
enclosures as well.
 Different transportation means always aim for lightweight parts as lighter vehicles
require less power/fuel to operate. That’s why various industries use magnesium die
castings as body components for automobiles, aircraft, and even bicycles.
 Some magnesium alloys have enhanced ductility, creep resistance, corrosion
resistance and can withstand high temperatures. Therefore, these properties make it an
ideal choice for engine and transmission components.
What are the Advantages of Magnesium Die Casting?
The main advantages of Magnesium Die Casting are discussed in detail below:
Extremely Lightweight

Magnesium’s specific gravity is only 1.74. Whereas aluminum has about 2.55 and Iron has
about 7.5. Therefore, magnesium is almost 35% lighter than aluminum and 75% lighter than
Iron. Consequently, it is considered one of the most lightweight structural metals.

Easy to Machine

Magnesium die cast parts are easy to machine. So, they require less time and cost. It could be
a good choice when dealing with a die casting project that requires too much secondary
machining.

Good Castability

Magnesium alloys are known for their castability. The high fluidity of magnesium alloys
makes them easy to cast. So, intricate features and thin walls are easier to implement with
magnesium alloy casting.

Excellent Shielding Properties

Magnesium parts have exceptional EMI/RFI shielding properties. So, magnesium enclosures
can protect electrical components from electromagnetic radiation. Thus, this makes it very
important for certain applications.

What Magnesium Alloys are There in Die Casting?

Magnesium alloy composition mainly consists of the following elements,

 Aluminum
 Zinc
 Silicon
 Rare Earth
 Manganese
Here, AZ91D alloy is more commonly used for die casting magnesium alloys. The first two
letters of the alloy refer to the major alloying ingredients. For instance, the AZ91D alloy has
9% aluminum and 1% zinc.

Normally, magnesium has bad corrosion resistance. The high percentage of alloying elements,
especially aluminum, improves its mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and castability.
Decreasing aluminum content would compromise these properties but would increase the
ductility.

There are different variations of magnesium alloys available in the market. Which one you
need depends on your product’s application. The commonly used magnesium alloy includes,

 AM50A
 AM20
 AM60B
  AS41B
 AE42, etc.
Here, magnesium die casting companies use AM50A, AM20, and AM60B alloys, when they
need to achieve a reasonable toughness, ductility, and impact resistance. They use the AS41B
and AE42 alloys when focusing on better strength at high temperatures, ductility, and creep
resistance.

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