HIGH PERFORMANCE MG ALLOYS

MAGNESIUM ALLOYS ARE A VERY ATTRACTIVE STRUCTURAL MATERIAL FOR AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS DUE TO THEIR HIGH SPECIFIC STRENGTH AND STIFFNESS. ONE GLARING PROBLEM WITH THESE ALLOYS IS THEIR VERY POOR RESISTANCE TO CORROSION, PARTICULARLY WHEN EXPOSED TO CHLORIDECONTAINING ENVIRONMENTS. IF MAGNESIUM ALLOYS CAN BE DEVELOPED THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE, THEN MANY NEW APPLICATIONS WILL BE FOUND TO INCORPORATE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR REDUCING A SYSTEM'S WEIGHT. FAILURE ANALYSIS ASSOCIATES (FAAA) PROPOSES TO USE MECHANICAL ALLOYING AS A METHOD BY WHICH TO MAKE THESE CORROSION-RESISTANT ALLOYS. THIS POWDER PROCESSING SCHEME ALLOWS VIRTUALLY ANY METALLIC ALLOY COMPOSITION TO BE PRODUCED WITHOUT REGARD TO LIQUID METAL SOLUBILITIES AND MELT REACTIVITY, THEREBY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR OBTAINING AN ALLOY COMPOSITION WITH GREATER CORROSION RESISTANCE.