Lightweight Magnesium Components of a Missile Body

Magnesium alloys have 35% lower density compared to aluminum, with improved temperature stability compared to high strength aluminum.They can also be fabricated with minimum gauge thicknesses considerably thinner than fiber composites, and are weldable, with much higher impact resistance.Traditional magnesium alloys, however, have had lower strengths than more developed aluminum alloys.Powder metallurgy magnesium with nanocrystalline grain sizes have vastly improved properties, but have low ductility, are expensive and difficult to fabricate.Newer, wrought nanocomposite magnesium alloys incorporating nanolaminate and/or nanotwin phases have achieved properties exceeding 7000 series aluminum while having 35% lower density and better fatigue and high temperature properties.Terves has developed these nanocomposite magnesium alloys with low rare earth content in bar and thick-walled tubular forms for oil and gas applications.During this STTR his project , Terves will continue working with the University of California Riverside to produce nanostructured magnesium sheet and extrusion profiles suitable for missile construction, while tracking microstructural development as a function of thermomechanical processing history.Approved for Public Release | 18-MDA-9522 (23 Feb 18)